At the turn of the last decades of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, several waves of plague struck the Italian peninsula and Europe. Francesco Datini’s correspondence is full of information on these epidemic waves and their consequences. Obviously, the plague had a negative impact on the market, activities and economic life, and damaged merchants’ business. Sometimes, however, it became an opportunity to make good profits, especially for those companies, which showed resilience, devising new projects and adapting them to the emergency phase. In addition to business, the plague had an effect in the sphere of family and friendship: the disease killed relatives, partners and friends and also influenced the behaviour of merchants, poised between the desire to continue their business as in normal times and the desire to save their own lives.
«A’ tenpi di morìa e di guerra no si puote tropo aprire l’ochio!». L’operatore economico medievale di fronte alle crisi sanitarie
Maria Giagnacovo
2021-01-01
Abstract
At the turn of the last decades of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, several waves of plague struck the Italian peninsula and Europe. Francesco Datini’s correspondence is full of information on these epidemic waves and their consequences. Obviously, the plague had a negative impact on the market, activities and economic life, and damaged merchants’ business. Sometimes, however, it became an opportunity to make good profits, especially for those companies, which showed resilience, devising new projects and adapting them to the emergency phase. In addition to business, the plague had an effect in the sphere of family and friendship: the disease killed relatives, partners and friends and also influenced the behaviour of merchants, poised between the desire to continue their business as in normal times and the desire to save their own lives.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
