How did the Black Death affect the places Ibn Battuta visited in Syria in 1348?

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Engraving of Ibn Battuta in Egypt, standing on a decorated stone block with another man, overlooking ancient Egyptian columns and palm trees in the background. — Ibn Battuta Ibn Baṭṭūṭah (right) with an Egyptian man in Egypt.

In 1348, the Black Death struck Syria with devastating consequences, causing widespread loss of life and social upheaval. During his return journey, Ibn Battuta witnessed these ravages firsthand as he visited various towns across the region.1

In Damascus, specifically, the plague outbreak of 1348–1349 was catastrophic, resulting in the death of perhaps as much as half of the city's population. This demographic collapse, followed by later political and economic instability, contributed to a long-term decline in the city's urban order and economic health.2