In which period did a preoccupation with macabre thoughts about rotting corpses become prominent?

The correct answer is the Medieval Period, a time characterized by a strong focus on themes of death and decay. During this era, the cultural, religious, and social practices were heavily influenced by the pervasive belief in the afterlife and the consequences of sin, leading to a fascination with the morbid aspects of life, including the condition of the dead.

Art and literature from the Medieval Period often reflected this preoccupation with mortality, with representations of rotting corpses and reminders of death frequently found in church murals and manuscripts. This period also saw the development of the Dance of Death motif, which visually interpreted the inevitability of death for all people, regardless of their status in life.

In contrast, the Renaissance marked a shift towards humanism and an exploration of the beauty of life, while the Enlightenment emphasized reason and scientific inquiry, often distancing itself from the macabre. The Industrial Revolution, on the other hand, transformed society in terms of production and urbanization, leading to new perspectives on life and death, but it did not rekindle the same preoccupation with corpses that characterized the Medieval era.