A recent study from the University of Exeter reveals that widely accepted ideas about how the Black Death traveled across Asia and into Europe were based not on contemporary records, but on a 14th-century Arabic poem.

 

The poem, penned by Ibn al‑Wardi in Aleppo around 1348-49, is part of the maqāma literary tradition. Researchers found that this work—originally intended as creative storytelling—was later misinterpreted as a literal historical document. 

 

For centuries, historians believed the plague bacteria rapidly swept from Central Asia through Persia, the Black Sea region and into Europe within a few years. This “quick transit” theory was reinforced in part because later chroniclers treated Ibn al-Wardi’s text as factual. Modern genetic and historical evidence, however, now calls that timeline into question. The new research highlights that the poem’s narrative reflects metaphor and storytelling, not accurate pathogen mapping. 

 

Beyond revising how we view the plague’s trajectory, the study underscores how medieval societies used literature—specifically the maqāma form—to process trauma such as mass death and social upheaval. Far from mere historical evidence, these stories provide insight into how communities made sense of catastrophe. 

 

By reconsidering this poetic source, scholars are opening up investigation into earlier and lesser-known epidemics, and adjusting how we analyze cultural responses to disease and disaster. 

 

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

A 14th-century Arabic poem by Ibn al-Wardi, originally literary, was later misread as a factual account of the Black Death’s spread.

 

The study challenges the “quick transit” theory that the plague swept from Central Asia to Europe in mere years.

 

Medieval artistic forms like the maqāma reveal how past societies processed crisis—offering cultural insight beyond

epidemiological data.

 

Adapted From 

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251111005957.htm

 

Link to study 

 

Muhammed Omar, Nahyan Fancy. Mamluk Maqāmas on the Black Death. Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies, 2025; 25 (4): 151 DOI: 10.5617/jais.12790

 

 

 

why didnt we see people dressed like that during covid?

 

So, ye fake news?

 

Truly nothing is new!

35 minutes ago, Bacon1 said:

A 14th-century Arabic poem by Ibn al-Wardi, originally literary, was later misread as a factual account of the Black Death’s spread.

 

While arguing with my history teacher about written sources long ago I did mention the possibility that they could be reading works of fiction and accepting them as fact and he kind of wrote it off as there's more than one corroborating source in general.

I was not particularly convinced by his counter arguments but as a 14 year old what could I do - so I just ignored it and him.

Here's a link to the original poem, translated to English.

 

https://plagueanthology.com/2020/07/24/ibn-al-wardi-on-the-advance-of-plague-1348/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

There are even more stories written by several people roughly 2 centuries ago about some guy in Jerusalem who led a revolt against the Authorities.

Some people actually believe it all to be true, and base their entire lives on that information.

Does the K-book belong in that category too?

17 hours ago, save the frogs said:

why didnt we see people dressed like that during covid?

 

 

That was the corvid pandemic - those affected morphed into large crows.