Powietrzem tknięty. Zarazy i klęski żywiołowe w świadomości społecznej czasów saskich

Abstract

In the mentality of the society of the Baroque, health was generally regarded as one of the basic values and the highest welfare to man. Disease and natural disasters were seen as the result of God’s wrath against sinful humanity and they were a regular part of the mentality of the people of this era. In the moment of a real threat, most people gave in to collective psychosis of fear, easily succumbing to manipulation, which often resulted in aggressive behaviour against the alleged perpetrators – Jews, vagabonds, and all sorts of sinners. The collective aggression was often directed against these groups in the case of epidemics.