Causes of epidemics and how to deal with it in the Mamluk era (648-923)

The spread of contagious diseases was one of the main problems in the era of Burji and Bahri Mamluks. These diseases had devastating effects on the social and economical status of Egypt during the Mamluk period. Mamluks each had their own methods to deal with epidemics. The Bahris were more pragmatic than the Burjis, they built hospitals and took care of patients and doctors, while the Burjis interpreted epidemics with a religious outlook and fighting against corruption and cracking down on religious minorities was considered a way to combat these diseases. This article, with a descriptive-analytical method, seeks to answer the questions of what are the causes of the prevalence of epidemics in the Mamluk era and how Bahris and Burjis dealt with them. Results indicate that appropriate economical and political conditions of the Bahris and their successful performance led to the control of the disease and reduction of its destructive effects, but the unfavourable political and economical status of the Burjis and inappropriate performance confronting epidemics had further weakened their government.‎