| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
Introduction Despite the advancements in medical knowledge during the period of Islamic Iran and the transfer of Indian, Chinese, and Greek medical insights to the Islamic world, which intermingled with Iranian medicine and led to the emergence of numerous medical schools, traditional Iranian medicine has consistently faced a crisis in treating infectious diseases such as cholera and plague due to a lack of understanding of their nature. Epidemic diseases, which spread as a result of environmental factors, population density, and lifestyle choices, were considered one of the most pressing issues in the early centuries of Iranian society, leaving harmful effects. Historical reports indicate that these epidemics were deadly, often resulting in such high death tolls that people were unable to bury the deceased. The causes of these diseases, their modes of transmission, the duration of their spread, and the public's reactions to them are all significant issues worthy of attention. Although many epidemic diseases have been controlled in recent centuries due to advancements in medical science and increased public awareness, the outbreak of COVID-19 demonstrated that this issue continues to impact human society. According to what was said; Among the terrible crises that appeared repeatedly during the past centuries of Iran and left destructive and deep effects on the body of the society,the outbreak of deadly diseases, cholera and plague, and due to its long persistence in one area and its power of contagion from one place to another, had numerous cultural and social consequences that the society was affected by these effects. Therefore, understanding the causes of diseases, their transmission, and countermeasures can help mitigate their consequences. Given the importance and necessity of this subject, the current research aims to address the question of how the epidemic diseases of cholera and plague and their frequent outbreaks had cultural consequences in Iran from the 4th to the 6th centuries Hijri. The hypothesis posited is that the spread of these diseases has had destructive effects on the cultural and social structures of society. Materials and Methods The current research employs a combined method of description, explanation, and library resource exploration. The materials extracted from primary sources and recent studies have been organized by subject type and chronological order. Subsequently, the data from these sources have been assessed according to historical criteria and the authenticity of the materials, prioritizing documents and the reliability of the narrator. Regarding the background of the research, it should be said that although there have been various studies about cholera and plague epidemics, dealing with the different effects of these diseases in the cultural and social sectors of Iran, in the mentioned centuries, is the innovation of the present research. However, regarding the background of this issue, we can mention these things; A thesis entitled "Natural events of the Jebel province and its consequences from the rise of Islam to the Mongol invasion" is by Marzieh Asadi I (2013); In this work, he has generally investigated the types of natural disasters in the province of Jebel and investigated their consequences with an emphasis on other natural disasters with sudden effects such as earthquakes, floods, snow and cold, etc.; However, regarding the background of this issue, we can mention these things; A thesis entitled "Natural events of the Jebel province and its consequences from the rise of Islam to the Mongol invasion" is by Marzieh Asadi I (2013); In this work, he has generally investigated the types of natural disasters in the province of Jebel and investigated their consequences with an emphasis on other natural disasters with sudden effects such as earthquakes, floods, snow and cold, etc. The article Natural Disasters and Disasters in the Middle Ages of Iranian History, written by Imam Ali Shabani and Hamida Mehr Ali Tabar (1392), deals with the consequences of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, snow, cold, and storms. According to the above material, it can be said that this research specifically and with emphasis on the negative effects of cholera and plague epidemics in the cultural and social dimensions of Iran in the period in question. Result and Discussion Studying the history of infectious diseases can help to understand the current and future conditions. Plague, cholera, and recently coronavirus have had profound effects on political, economic, social, and even cultural life. The most important environmental factors of the spread of cholera and plague epidemics, Polluted weather, and the presence of dead animals, have been mentioned. In addition to natural factors, human factors also had an effect in intensifying the spread of the disease. The treatment approach of epidemic diseases was based on; Traditional medicine, religious medicine, and treatment were based on superstitions. One of the most important sources of knowledge of Iranian medicine is traditional medicine, based on which mental and physical health is dependent on the balance of the four elements (soil, wind, water, fire) in the body, and the disruption of their proportions leads to disease. From the doctors' point of view, the reason for the phlegm balance to be disturbed was the inhalation of the infectious air of the plague, which eventually led to the plague. Therefore, to prevent the progress of the disease, hygiene was carried out in the form of a necessary set, based on which it was suggested to protect the body against infectious air by leaving the said air or creating a closed and quarantined space. Medicine is based on Islamic thinking and rulings based on Quranic verses, narrations attributed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Shia Imams (PBUH), and it emphasizes prevention and treatment through foods, simple medicines, and appeal to God. Believing in superstitions instead of understanding the facts was also considered a way to cure the disease, but in fact, these delusions were the reason for the spread of the disease. Anyway, considering that the society suffered a lot of difficulties and mental problems during the outbreak of epidemic diseases and the resulting casualties, and as a result, it turned to superstitions to relieve itself. Therefore, he can save himself from this crisis. In this way, these diseases have many cultural and social consequences, such as; It resulted in the restriction of holding cultural rituals and the lack of community leaders, which caused mental and emotional problems in addition to physical damage; The reflection of these consequences is visible in the works of poets and writers. The consequences of infectious diseases in the field of thought were no less than population losses, and as a phenomenon, it became a problem for human destiny and was reflected in the belief trends of Islamic religions. In the sources of the Islamic period, one can see the popular opinion of Iranians, including clerics and ordinary people, about epidemic diseases, who were interested in interpreting the nature of diseases and their connection with the issue of divine grace and wrath; That these diseases are a source of mercy and forgiveness of sins for the believers and a source of punishment for the misguided. Conclusions The spread of infectious diseases in Iran, attributed to various factors, has always been regarded as a significant challenge to social life. Despite advancements in medical knowledge, these diseases remained prevalent and resulted in many casualties. Furthermore, they profoundly affected various cultural and social foundations, weakening these structures in multiple ways. This type of disease, regardless of social status or age, affects all strata of society, leading to the dispersion of people, insecurity, and the weakening of cultural institutions and customs. It also attracted educated and useful individuals, who were the minority in society, resulting in a decline of rationality. Instead, profit-seeking individuals intervened in unexpected events and the mental suffering of the populace, inducing a sense of philanthropy that served their interests. Particularly during the height of diseases, the market for superstitions, populism, and commercial abuses related to the promotion of ineffective drugs flourished. Although the psychological and internal effects of superstitions were more widely accepted in these cases, they equally hindered personal effort and creativity. Furthermore, the consequences of epidemics were reflected in literature and poetry, influencing intellectual discourse, particularly regarding the notion of people's guilt as a primary cause of disease spread. |