The Black Death was a disease that had a catastrophic impact on Europe. Reaching Europe in 1347, the plague killed an estimation of one-third of the population in the first wave. Each document varies with its reasons for the cause of the plague and how to deal with it.
The first document Ordinances against the Spread of Plague seemed to blame Pisa and Lucca for the plague and thus, began to forbid contact with those places. It was forbidden for citizens of Pistoia to go to, or have contact with anyone or anything from Pisa or Lucca. Pistoia had other ways of trying to prevent the spread of the disease such as, not allowing linens to travel outside the city, or bring linens into the city from outside sources. They would burn linens that they believed to be contaminated due to outside sources. Pistoia also had a very strict way to deal with the dead. They would ensure that the body was tightly
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Thus, began the persecution of the Jews which involved burning all those accused, no matter age or gender. The last document however, states that the blaming of Jews was wrong and that they could not have possibly done such a heinous crime. The sickness had affected everyone regardless of who they were.
The documents show and describe the Black Death and how it happened in many ways. Europe really didn’t know what to think of all the death that was surrounding them so they tried understanding it the best they could. Some were more rational about it and knew that they should try to avoid the dead and contact with those who may be ill. Others were scared and decided to blame it on those with different beliefs as them. They didn’t want to believe that they had done something wrong for which God would punish them. Europe just didn’t understand what was happening or what to do to make it