The Italian Peninsula

Europe slowly recovered from the plague. In part this was due to the fact that most of the susceptible population died in the first few years of the plague, but in part it was due to drastic measures taken by cities to prevent the plague from entering. In Italy, divided into a number of independent states, the port cities instituted the practice of interning a vessel's cargo and crew for a period of thirty days before they were allowed to mingle with the general population: the original quarantine (from quarantina, “forty” in Italian).

The plague had two important effects. Since it spread faster among the densely packed urban population, the cities were particularly hard hit, and the surviving artisans could ask for premium wages. Drawn by higher wages, many agricultural workers left the farm and migrated to the city.

The higher wages could be paid easily, for often the wealth of an entire family fell into the hands of a single survivor. In the past, the wealthy had given money to the church and its charities. But piety provided no protection from the plague. Thus, many took to living as if there would be no tomorrow—as well there might not be, if the plague came again. Some spent their inheritance on lavish, drunken orgies. Others spent their money in the manner of the great medieval kings, patronizing artists and scholars. Both of these were common features of the Renaissance, the “rebirth” of patronage and scholarship.

The exact causes of the Renaissance have long been debated and no definitive answer has yet emerged.