In this essay I tend to make some brief remarks on health policies adopted in the Kingdom of Naples in the 17th century, referring to two extraordinary events which pushed government authorities into taking the necessary measures to deal with the health emergency. These two events were very different, both because of their different seriousness and diffusion, and, consequently, because of the very different way to govern them. The first episode concerns the serious plague epidemics in 1656, which was serious both because of its widespread diffusion, and because of the high mortality rates recorded; the second one concerns the plague epidemics in 1690, which had a less widespread diffusion, and therefore also lower mortality rates. Thanks to the analysis of the government of these two epidemics I tend to give an overall interpretation of health policies in Southern Italy during the 17th century. In fact, "policies" and the reasons for the choices made by the authorities emerge more clearly above all during extraordinary events.
Nel saggio si offrono alcuni brevi spunti di riflessione sulle politiche sanitarie adottate nel regno di Napoli nel Seicento, facendo riferimento a due eventi straordinari che spinsero le autorità di governo a prendere i provvedimenti necessari per affrontare l'emergenza sanitaria. Due eventi molto differenti tra loro, sia per la loro diversa gravità e diffusione, sia, conseguentemente, per il modo assai diverso di governarli. Il primo episodio riguarda la grave epidemia di peste del 1656, grave sia per la sua capillare propagazione, sia per gli alti tassi di mortalità registrati; il secondo la peste del 1690, che presenta una diffusione territoriale molto più limitata e, quindi, anche indici di mortalità inferiori. Attraverso l'analisi del governo di queste due epidemie si tenta di fornire una lettura complessiva delle politiche sanitarie nel Mezzogiorno del Seicento. Infatti, è soprattutto in occasione di eventi straordinari che emergono con maggiore chiarezza le "politiche" e le ragioni delle scelte operate dalle autorità.
Il Regno di Napoli nelle emergenze sanitarie del XVII secolo. Istituzioni, politiche e controllo dello spazio marittimo e terrestre
Idamaria Fusco
2015
Abstract
In this essay I tend to make some brief remarks on health policies adopted in the Kingdom of Naples in the 17th century, referring to two extraordinary events which pushed government authorities into taking the necessary measures to deal with the health emergency. These two events were very different, both because of their different seriousness and diffusion, and, consequently, because of the very different way to govern them. The first episode concerns the serious plague epidemics in 1656, which was serious both because of its widespread diffusion, and because of the high mortality rates recorded; the second one concerns the plague epidemics in 1690, which had a less widespread diffusion, and therefore also lower mortality rates. Thanks to the analysis of the government of these two epidemics I tend to give an overall interpretation of health policies in Southern Italy during the 17th century. In fact, "policies" and the reasons for the choices made by the authorities emerge more clearly above all during extraordinary events.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
