Plague and plague narratives in the Ottoman lands in the 17th century

Since its establishment, the Ottoman Empire had continuously witnessed outbreaks of plague across its territories, which persisted with undiminished impact throughout the seventeenth century and beyond. Due to its geopolitical position and political significance, the empire represented a geography highly susceptible to epidemics and often remained vulnerable to the plague transmitted through maritime and overland routes. In general, the various forms of plague tended to emerge with the onset of warmer weather and gradually subside toward the end of the summer. In temporary plague foci that were more severely affected, the disease consistently caused higher mortality rates and reappeared at frequent intervals. The imperial capital, Istanbul, which stood at the forefront of these foci, was among the regions most heavily affected by the plague