Key Highlights
- A 14th-century poem by Ibn al-Wardi has been identified as the source of long-standing myths about the rapid spread of the Black Death across Asia.
- The misinterpretation of this poem, originally a work of fiction, led to centuries of misinformation about how the plague traveled and affected populations.
- Modern genetic evidence suggests that the bacteria responsible for the Black Death likely originated in Central Asia, contradicting earlier theories based on Ibn al-Wardi’s narrative.
- The study highlights the role of creative writing in medieval societies as a coping mechanism during catastrophic events like pandemics.
Origins of Misinformation
In 1348/9, Ibn al-Wardi composed a “maqāma,” an Arabic literary form often featuring a wandering trickster. This work was intended as imaginative fiction but later mistaken for an eyewitness account of the Black Death’s spread.
Spread of Misconceptions
The tale of the plague racing along the Silk Route and devastating cities and towns became deeply ingrained in historical narratives, influencing generations of scholars. Despite modern genetic evidence suggesting a different origin point, some scientists still adhere to this “Quick Transit Theory.”
Challenging Historical Narratives
According to Professor Nahyan Fancy from the University of Exeter, who co-authored the study with Muhammed Omar, the confusion began in the fifteenth century when Arab chroniclers and later European historians treated Ibn al-Wardi’s narrative as factual. This error has since persisted for centuries.
The Role of Creative Writing
Ibn al-Wardi’s “maqāma” personifies the plague as a mischievous wanderer, bringing death to one region after another over a 15-year journey. This literary device allowed medieval societies to process and cope with the unimaginable loss caused by the Black Death.
Implications for Historical Research
The new study challenges historians to revisit earlier outbreaks in places like Damascus, which struck in 1258 and Kaifeng in 1232-33. By recognizing Ibn al-Wardi’s work as fiction, researchers can now explore how communities responded to these earlier crises and how such memories influenced later understandings of the Black Death.
These writings may not provide accurate information about the spread of the plague but offer profound insights into how people lived with an unprecedented crisis. Professor Fancy noted that “creativity may have been a way to exercise some control and served as a coping mechanism during widespread death, similar to developing new culinary or artistic skills during the pandemic.”
