نبذة مختصرة : This study attempts to identify a type of a catastrophe that befell Iraq during the second Abbasid period, namely plagues and epidemics which surfaced in different historical times in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, regardless of the way they spread, i. e., whether by contact or through migration from Iraq or nearby regions. The current study focuses on the nature of such plagues and epidemics and their effects, since they varied in their duration, their spread, their form, the reasons for their appearance, and the extent of their consequences. Due to these, we will find that some scholars wrote books on the subject and historians used different terminologies to describe them such as, epidemic, plague, illness, killer, pestilence, death, sickness, torrent. The study essentially follows the various consequences of such plagues and epidemics; the political effects that are related to it and influence the power or weakness of the state, the cohesion of its establishments when dealing with such plagues and epidemics, their dangerous social impact which worsen the situation depending onhow long they lastorrecur in the same cities, especially famine, forced migration, increased number of fatalities, widows and orphans. These factors cause imbalance in the demography, the climate and the environment. Also, plagues and epidemics negatively affect the economy since, economic activities go into recession, trade slows down, foodstuff becomes scarce, improper trade dealings become rampant (such as, monopoly, theft and other activities that are forbidden in the religion and culture). This study, therefore, is important since it attempts to highlight the positive aspects of social practices undertaken by volunteers or social organizations that take it upon themselves to lessen the spread of epidemics among the population, achieve solidarity and unity and, extend help to the sick and their families. One of the main positive consequences of the spread of plagues and epidemics in the period under study is the emeigence of medical services and scientific studies. These were in the form of the Abbasid state providing care for the victims, establishing hospitals and, assigning special wards for the infected people. These were coupled with the physicians studies of the causes and symptoms of the plagues and epidemics at the time and finding cures or ways to combat their spread, in addition to activities of scientists in various fields and who wrote about such epidemics and plagues. The study's methodology is an analytical historical one whichresearches narratives in various sources, then analyzes and discusses them. The researcher relied basically on a number of historical sources, jurisprudence, literature and culture, medical books, in addition to more recent publications that focus on the study of plagues and epidemics in Islamic history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Processing Request
No Comments.