ABSTRACT
In the long sixteenth century, a series of catastrophic Tiber River floods destroyed the centre of Rome. Major floods occurred in 1476, 1495, 1530, 1557, and worst of all, 1598; less catastrophic floods happened more often. Such floods caused numerous drownings of humans and animals. They inevitably destroyed the river mills that provided Romans with their flour, leading to hunger and even starvation. They undermined the foundations of buildings and destroyed houses and other structures. They also inspired numerous writings – poems, learned and practical tracts, and reports, which described Tiber River flooding, often discussed the causes of flooding, and sometimes proposed solutions that would prevent these periodic catastrophes. This essay investigates a series of writings on Tiber River flooding, beginning with the flood of 1476 and ending with the great flood of 1598. Questions addressed include whether earlier tracts influenced later ones, the ways in which the authors dealt with the causes of flooding, the influence of ancient precedents in finding solutions and the practical solutions offered.
