Answer:
During the Medieval period, there was a preoccupation with the physical side of death, which was reflected in the art, literature, and religious beliefs of the time. Death was often depicted as a physical entity, personified as a skeleton or a decaying corpse, and was a frequent subject in artwork, such as illuminated manuscripts, carvings, and paintings.
One reason for this preoccupation was the high mortality rate of the time, with death being an ever-present reality in daily life. Additionally, the medieval worldview emphasized the importance of the body and its role in salvation, with physical suffering and penance seen as a means of achieving spiritual redemption. This focus on the physical body extended to death, with the belief that the body would eventually be resurrected and reunited with the soul on Judgment Day.
The physical side of death was also reflected in the religious rituals and practices of the time. Death was seen as a transformative experience, and mourning was an important part of the grieving process. Funerals were elaborate affairs, with rituals and prayers aimed at ensuring the safe passage of the soul to the afterlife. Memento mori, or reminders of death, were also common, with skull motifs and other symbols serving as reminders of the inevitability of death and the need to prepare for the afterlife.
In terms of conclusion, the high mortality rate, the significance of the body in salvation, and religious beliefs and customs around death and grief all contributed to the Medieval preoccupation with the physical component of death. This obsession served as a reminder of the inevitable death and the necessity of preparing for the hereafter and was expressed in art, literature, and religious ceremonies.