The Effect of Epidemic Diseases on The Foundation and Failure of The Umayyads State

Abstract

The concepts of "taun" and "plague" used by Arabs to describe epidemics are major events affecting human history. Epidemic is one of the historical factors that can grow in the regions it emerges in a short time and cause millions of people to die, the economic, political, military and organizational structure of their states to deteriorate and leave indelible marks in the memory of societies. These types of nations, which cannot be dismissed at once, show themselves not only in the period they are active but also later. They make their negative effects such as famine, absence, price increase and political depression feel at the nape of the society.

When looking at the sources of Islamic history in general, the impression that there is no serious incident that affects the Islamic world, except for a few important epidemics, awakens. But when the sources are examined in depth, the situation differs slightly. Especially during the Umayyad rule, tauns often showed themselves with pioneers and aftershocks. Even in the Umayyad's coming to power, the people who share the power's departure from the administration and the termination of the Umayyad power have serious effects. It can be said that the Umayyads came with taun and went with taun. Were they a divine punishment, as the Abbasi claimed? Or were they normal pandemic processes that can be seen in an environment where wars are frequent? In order to answer similar questions, this article will investigate all of the Umayyads, one by one, and their possible effects on the state will be determined and an outcome will be attempted. Thus, the possible effects on the fall of Umayyad will be illuminated to some extent.