Question

"If it were asked, why do we accept the theory of contagion, when already the divine law has refuted the notion of contagion, we will answer: The existence of contagion has been proved by experience, deduction, the senses, observation, and by unanimous reports. And it is not a secret to whoever has looked into this matter or has come to be aware of it that those who come into contact with plague patients mostly die, while those who do not come into contact survive. And amidst the horrible afflictions that the plague has imposed upon the people, God has afflicted the people with some learned religious scholars who issue fatwas* against fleeing the plague, so that the quills with which the scholars wrote these fatwas were like swords upon which the Muslims died. In conclusion, to ignore the proofs of plague contagion is an indecency and an affront to God and holds cheap the lives of Muslims."

*rulings on Islamic law

Lisan al-Din Ibn al-Khatib, A Very Useful Inquiry into the Horrible Sickness, Granada, Spain, 1349-1352

The outbreaks of plague described in the passage led most directly to which of the following?


A) The decline of many major cities across Eurasia

B) The conquest of Eurasia by Central Asian nomadic peoples

C) The Spanish and Portuguese voyages of exploration to find new trade routes to Asia

D) The increased development of mechanical labor-saving devices for industrial production

Answer 1

The outbreaks of plague during the mid-14th century, which are discussed in the passage by Lisan al-Din Ibn al-Khatib, led most directly to the decline of many major cities across Eurasia due to high mortality rates and ensuing social and economic disruptions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage by Lisan al-Din Ibn al-Khatib speaks to the acceptance of the theory of contagion during the outbreaks of plague in the mid-14th century. Contrary to some religious explanations at the time, he argues that empirical observations support the idea of contagion, and to deny it would be harmful to the lives of the faithful. The passage you provided discusses the repercussions of the plague and the attitude towards it during the period. The outbreaks of plague described in the passage led most directly to The decline of many major cities across Eurasia. This decline occurred as a result of high mortality rates, social disruption, and economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

Contemporaneous with Ibn al-Khatib's writings, the Black Death was having devastating effects across Eurasia, influencing social structures, the economy, and the course of human history. Although some initially viewed the plague through a religious lens, the widespread devastation and observable evidence of contagion forced a change in understanding and response to the disease. Many major cities were depopulated, leading to significant economic and social changes in the affected areas.