The plague of 1630 in Modena (Italy) through the study of parish registers

The plague of 1630 in Modena (Italy) through the study of parish registers

Authors

  • Mirko Traversari Dipartimento di Beni Culturali, Università di Bologna
  • Diletta Biagini Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
  • Giancarlo Cerasoli Gruppo AUSL Romagna Cultura, Italy
  • Raffaele Gaeta Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
  • Donata Luiselli Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
  • Giorgio Gruppioni Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
  • Elisabetta Cilli Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy

Keywords:

Plague, Infectious diseases, Paleopathology

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact this disease had on the community in Modena during the epidemic in 1630 and highlight the real course of the disease that brought Modena and whole Europe to its knees in the 17th century. The investigation was carried out by transcribing and studying the parish certificates of death for the period 1625-1635. This study confirmed that the plague epidemic in Modena began as early as 1629, and then exploded in the most virulent form since the beginning of summer 1630 and reached its peak in August of the same year, when it caused about seven hundred victims.

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Published

06-12-2019

Issue

Section

Original articles: History of Medicine

How to Cite

1.
Traversari M, Biagini D, Cerasoli G, Gaeta R, Luiselli D, Gruppioni G, et al. The plague of 1630 in Modena (Italy) through the study of parish registers. Med Histor [Internet]. 2019 Dec. 6 [cited 2025 Mar. 16];3(3):139-48. Available from: https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/MedHistor/article/view/8633