Plague epidemics and public health in Mantua, 1463-1577

A nuanced understanding of public health responses to plague epidemics in Mantua, Italy (1463–1577) reveals that the city's health office deviated from the rigid 'Italian system' model applied in larger urban centers. While Mantua adopted core measures like trade bans and quarantine, their implementation varied significantly based on outbreak severity and state apparatus evolution. The study highlights the critical role of civic-ecclesiastical collaboration, including symbolic acts like processions, alongside practical interventions, challenging the notion of uniform enforcement. This research advances knowledge of Renaissance Italian public health by emphasizing flexibility within structured responses and community participation as defining features.

Leonard, M.-L. (2014). Plague epidemics and public health in Mantua, 1463-1577. University of Glasgow. https://doi.org/10.5525/GLA.THESIS.5704