The Plague in Siena: An Italian Chronicle, Agnolo Di Tura, 1348.
"They died by the hundreds, both day and night, and all were thrown in
ditches and covered with earth. And as soon as those ditches were filled, more
were dug. And I. Agnolo di Tura .. buried my five children with my own hands. And
there were also those who were so sparsely covered with earth that the dogs
dragged them forth and devoured many bodies throughout the city. There was no
one who wept for any death, for all awaited death. And so many died that all believed that it was
the end of the world."
Based on this document only, what did Agnolo do? How was death treated? What inference
can be made about day to day life in Sienna during this time period?
Answer the question and we can help you.
Based on the document, Agnolo di Tura buried his five children with his own hands during the plague in Siena in 1348.
Death was treated in a matter-of-fact manner, with the dead being thrown into ditches and covered with earth. As the number of deaths increased, more ditches were dug to accommodate the bodies. Some bodies were buried so sparsely that they were dragged out by dogs and devoured.
Based on this document, it can be inferred that day-to-day life in Siena during this time period was filled with death and despair. The sheer number of deaths was overwhelming, and there was no time for mourning or grieving. People were resigned to their fate, with everyone believing that it was the end of the world.
Based on this document, it can be inferred that Agnolo di Tura, the author, buried his own five children during the time of the plague in Siena, Italy in 1348.
The document also provides insight into how death was treated during this time. It mentions that the bodies were thrown into ditches and covered with earth. However, due to the sheer number of deaths, as soon as one ditch was filled, more were dug to accommodate the increasing number of bodies. Additionally, some bodies were so sparsely covered that dogs ended up dragging them out and devouring them.
From the description in the document, it can be inferred that the situation was extremely dire and chaotic in Siena during this time period. People were dying in large numbers and there was a sense of despair and resignation as the author mentions that "all awaited death." The lack of mourning for the dead suggests that death had become so common that it had lost its usual significance, and individuals were just trying to survive amidst the devastation.
Overall, this document provides a glimpse into the tragic and unstable day to day life in Siena during the outbreak of the plague in 1348.