Giovanni Cocaccio Primary Sources

Quiz/Assignment #4

A primary source provides evidence about an artifact, document, manuscript, or autobiography about a particular event or topic. This is work of literature, the “Decameron”, was written by Giovanni Boccaccio in 1353 during the middle Ages. This book opens up about a tale about 7 women and 3 men who journey who take refuge at a villa outside France to escape the Black Plague. This book is a primary source because the author describes the characters harsh experiences of the Black Death similarly to what the people of Italy faced. The fact that author lived through this plague and wrote it at the time makes it a significant primary source. Since there is an existing copy, it is a good form evidence to help understand the happenings during the Black Plague. Another reason why it is a primary source is because it plays a huge role in describing the human experience. This work of literature continued to be translated into many texts after this was published

This distinctive work of literature is also a secondary source because it delineates the details of life in Italy during the Black Plague. It describes how the people were affected emotionally, physically, and socially by such tragedy. It also focuses on describing the inhumane society and its poor conditions of the city, Florence. Throughout the book, it talks about how the Black Death led to a destruction of society such as people going against each other, victims died helplessly, and parents not taking care of their sick children. “Husbands and wives, fearing infection, sat and prayed in separate rooms. Mothers walked away from their children and closed the door (Acocella,