Pandemie tra passato e presente. Assonanze o anticipazioni?

Abstract

The current coronavirus pandemic (SARS-COV-2) shows some similarities with past pandemics: it is obvious that the scientific aspects must be excluded, being absolutely incomparable. In particular, some correspondences are found with the terrible Black Death and with the subsequent epidemic events. In this perspective, the following aspects are examined: the measures implemented by public institutions to limit the spread of contagion; the bird and evolution of health commissions; the introduction of health pass (bulleta sanitatis) to move freely from one place to another and to enter some public places indoors. The essay concerns Northern Italy, with examples taken especially from archival sources of Piedmont, dated between the middle of the fourteenth century and the end of the fifteenth century.