TheDecameronIn1348,aterribleplagueoccurredinFlorence,Italy(theplaguereferredtointhisbookwasaplagueinEuropeinthe1440sand50s
Thetermblackdeathwasderivedfromthis)
Everyday,eveneveryhour,therearelargenumbersofbodiesthatareshippedoutsidethecity
FromMarchtoJuly,morethan100,000peoplediedfromillness
ThebeautifulandprosperouscityofFlorence,onceinthepast,becameacemeteryfullofbonesandwasfullofhorrors
ThisincidenthadaprofoundinfluenceonBoccaccio,agreatItalianwriteratthetime
Inordertorecordthehumandisaster,hetooktheplagueasthebackgroundandwrote"TheDecameron"forfiveyears
AccordingtoBoccaccio,thestoriesinTheDecameronarewell-founded
Theworkextolsthelifeofthepresent,praisesloveasthenoblesourceofwisdom,eulogizesthevalueoffreelove,affirmspeople’sintelligenceandsoon
Theworksalsorevealedthebrutalityofthefeudal