The Plague in Kurdistan (1397 to 1514 AD)

Abstract

The societies of the Middle Ages faced significant challenges due to health crises. The most notable of these was the plague. Consequently, large populations across the world were devastated. In Kurdistan, the plague recurred multiple times during the 9th century AH/15th century AD. As a result, a substantial number of people in the region endured immense hardship and destruction. Kurdistan's geographic location, serving as a bridge between the East and West, played a major role in the spread of the plague within the region. Most of the epidemics were transmitted from the neighboring areas to the north, east, and west. This includes details on the specific incidence and most important locations where the plague spread, as well as various definitions of the plague and a brief history of its dissemination. Due to the widespread deaths caused by the plague, it is clear that many diseases were transmitted beyond Kurdistan. The devastating impact of the plague, despite the massive loss of life, led to economic hardship and famine. This empowered the dominant powers of the time to exert their authority over the Kurdish regions.