Princeton University Press - The Black Death in the Middle East

Explore a vital historical perspective on one of the most significant pandemics in human history. This scholarly work examines the devastating epidemic of the fourteenth century, often referred to in European history as the Black Death, through a unique lens. Unlike many studies that focus on the West, this book utilizes Arabic sources to establish a clear chronology of how the plague pandemic advanced through the Middle East. By analyzing these primary accounts, the text details the means of transmission and the resulting impact on the region. The research covers the profound consequences of the epidemic, including the prolonged reduction of population that shaped the social and economic history of Egypt and Syria during the later Middle Ages. This book provides an essential look at the remarkable destruction of human life during the fourteenth century and its long-term effects on the Eurasian continent.