Natural disasters have long been a neglected subject in the study of history. At most they have been casually mentioned as a background material for political or social history. During the 90s this state of affairs has slowly began to change. Nevertheless, there is still no general history of natural disasters available in any language.
This book aims to cover one grey area in historical studies, that is, spiritual responses and survival strategies of medieval man in front of natural disasters. It asks what were his means to deal with natural disasters, phenomena he could not scientifically understand. How did he try to prevent them? What were his feelings and actions when the situation was on? How did he manage to carry on with his life afterwards?
It is an unusual book in many respects. It is a specific study based on original and in most cases unedited sources, but it can also be read as a general introduction. It crosses boundaries between different fields of learning and traditionally accepted time periods of history. Even if it is essentially a book on medieval man, it stretches far beyond the middle ages as conventionally understood. The final chapter traces the slow disappearance of the medieval mentality until the early nineteenth century.
Author(s): Jussi Hanska
Series: Studia Fennica Historica, 2
Publisher: Finnish Literature Society
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 220
City: Helsinki
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7
INTRODUCTION 9
1. THE BACKGROUND 15
Disastrous Times 15
In the Shadow of 'the Black Death' 18
Sources and Problems 24
The Predecessors 29
2. SEEKING DIVINE PROTECTION 32
Religion vs. Magic 33
Heavenly Helpers 42
Medieval Rationalism 45
3. AT THE MOMENT OF PERIL 48
Collective reactions 48
Processions 49
Sermons 64
Actual Catastrophe sermons 65
Rogation Day Sermons 68
The Setting of Catastrophe Sermons 78
Votive Masses and Collective Prayers 81
Individual Reactions 87
4. THE AFTERMATH – EXPLAINING AND SURVIVING NATURAL DISASTERS 101
Scapegoats and Political Explanations 102
Scientific Explanations 105
Apocalyptic Explanations 112
Divine Intervention 116
God’s Punishment 116
Demons on the Loose 126
Causality of Punishment 128
Purgatory in this World 132
Pastoral Care and Spiritual Healing 143
5. EPILOGUE: THE EXTENDED MIDDLE AGES 150
Post-Tridentine Catholicism 153
Protestant Revolution? 160
Popular resistance 161
Moderate Reformers 163
The Waning of the Traditional Religion 164
CONCLUSIONS 169
APPENDIX 1 179
APPENDIX 2 189
BIBLIOGRAPHY 202
INDEX NOMINUM ET LOCORUM 211
INDEX RERUM 217
