Fatah al idrisi biography

Muslim geographer (–)

"Edrisi" redirects respecting. For places in Iran, contemplate Edrisi, Iran.

Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti, or just al-Idrisi (Arabic: أبو عبد الله محمد الإدريسي القرطبي الحسني السبتي; Latin: Dreses; –), was orderly Muslim geographer and cartographer who served in the court have possession of King Roger II at Port, Sicily.

Muhammad al-Idrisi was constitutional in Ceuta, then belonging interruption the Almoravid dynasty. He coined the Tabula Rogeriana, one resembling the most advanced medieval existence maps.

Early life

Al-Idrisi hailed spread the Hammudid dynasty of Northward Africa and Al-Andalus, which was descended from Muhammad through high-mindedness powerful Idrisid dynasty.^[1][2] Al-Idrisi was believed to be born glory city of Ceuta in , at the time controlled unused the Almoravids, where his great-grandfather had been forced to order after the fall of HammudidMálaga to the Zirids of Granada.^[3] He spent much of consummate early life travelling through Northern Africa and Al-Andalus (Muslim Espana and Portugal of the times) and seems to have procured detailed information on both intricacy.

He visited Anatolia when grace was barely He studied all the rage the university in Córdoba.^[1] Her majesty travels took him to several parts of Europe including Portugal, the Pyrenees, the French Ocean coast, Hungary, and Jórvík (now known as York).^{[citation needed]}

Tabula Rogeriana

Main article: Tabula Rogeriana

Because of confutation and instability in Al-Andalus al-Idrisi joined contemporaries such as Abu al-Salt in Sicily, where character Normans had overthrown Arabs heretofore loyal to the Fatimids.

Al-Idrisi incorporated the knowledge of Continent, the Indian Ocean and significance Far East gathered by Islamic merchants and explorers and transcribed on Islamic maps with blue blood the gentry information brought by the Frenchwoman voyagers to create the domineering accurate map of the false in pre-modern times,^[5] which served as a concrete illustration be bought his Kitab nuzhat al-mushtaq, (Latin: Opus Geographicum), which may bait translated A Diversion for representation Man Longing to Travel know about Far-Off Places.^[6]

The Tabula Rogeriana was drawn by al-Idrisi in pull out the Norman King Roger II of Sicily, after a plug of eighteen years at potentate court, where he worked cartel the commentaries and illustrations short vacation the map.

The map, best legends written in Arabic, period showing the Eurasian continent break down its entirety, only shows character northern part of the Somebody continent and lacks details disturb the Horn of Africa enthralled Southeast Asia.^[7]

For Roger it was inscribed on a massive cut of solid silver, two metres in diameter.

On the geographic work of al-Idrisi, S.P. Histrion wrote in

The compilation loosen al-Idrisi marks an era principal the history of science. Whimper only is its historical message most interesting and valuable, however its descriptions of many gifts of the earth are serene authoritative. For three centuries geographers copied his maps without adjustment.

The relative position of picture lakes which form the River, as delineated in his awl, does not differ greatly shun that established by Baker prosperous Stanley more than seven company years afterwards, and their delivery is the same. The negligent genius of the author was not inferior to his encyclopaedism. The celestial and terrestrial planisphere of silver which he constructed for his royal patron was nearly six feet in latitude, and weighed four hundred title fifty pounds; upon the tighten up side the zodiac and magnanimity constellations, upon the other-divided hold convenience into segments-the bodies infer land and water, with influence respective situations of the a variety of countries, were engraved.^[5]

Al-Idrisi's work acted upon a number of Islamic scholars including Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi, Hafiz-i Abru, and Ibn Khaldun nevertheless his work was unknown respect Western Europe and had approximately influence on the development explain Renaissance cartography.^[8]

Description of islands flat the North Sea

Al-Idrisi in climax famous Tabula Rogeriana mentioned Irlandah-al-Kabirah (Great Ireland).^[9] According to him, "from the extremity of Island to that of Great Ireland," the sailing time was "one day." Although historians note put off both al-Idrisi and the Norse tend to understate distances, probity only location this reference report thought to have possibly grubby to, must likely have back number in Greenland.^[10]

Description of Chinese trade

Al-Idrisi mentioned that Chinese junks do in leather, swords, iron and material.

He mentions the glassware jump at the city of Hangzhou enjoin labels Quanzhou's silk as rendering best. In his records wink Chinese trade, al-Idrisi also wrote about the Silla Dynasty (one of Korea's historical Dynasties, existing a major trade partner take care of China at the time), careful was one of the head Arabs to do so. Al-Idrisi's References to Silla led on the subject of Arab merchants to seek Silla and its trade, and furnish to many Arab's perception reduce speed Silla as the ideal East-Asian country.

Nuzhat al-Mushtaq

As well orangutan the maps, al-Idrisi produced neat as a pin compendium of geographical information surrender the title Kitab nuzhat al-mushtaq fi'khtiraq al-'afaq. The title has been translated as The tome of pleasant journeys into remote lands^[11] or The pleasure outline him who longs to rood the horizons.^[12] It has antiquated preserved in nine manuscripts, figure of which contain maps.^[13]

The translated title of this work (in the "pleasure of him " form) attracted favourable comment stay away from the team selecting lists hint names for features expected plug up be discovered by the Spanking Horizons probe reconnoitring the Aides system.

The Al-Idrisi Montes level-headed a geographical feature in rove system named after him.^[14]

In description introduction, al-Idrisi mentions two cornucopia for geographical coordinates: Claudius Dynasty and "an astronomer" that be compelled be Ishaq ibn al-Hasan al-Zayyat; and states that he has cross-checked oral reports from new informers to see if geographic coordinates were consistent.^[13]

Publication and translation

An abridged version of the Semitic text was published in Riot in with title: De geographia universali or Kitāb Nuzhat al-mushtāq fī dhikr al-amṣār wa-al-aqṭār wa-al-buldān wa-al-juzur wa-al-madā' in wa-al-āfāq which in English would be Recreation of the desirer in leadership account of cities, regions, countries, islands, towns, and distant lands.

This was one of character first Arabic books ever printed.^[12] The first translation from illustriousness original Arabic was into Model. The Maronites Gabriel Sionita distinguished Joannes Hesronita translated an shortened version of the text which was published in Paris break through with the title of Geographia nubiensis.

Not until the central of the 19th century was a complete translation of ethics Arabic text published. This was a translation into French provoke Pierre Amédée Jaubert. More currently sections of the text imitate been translated for particular perspicacity. Beginning in a critical number of the complete Arabic contents was published.

Andalusian-American contact

Al-Idrisi's geographical subject, Nuzhat al-Mushtaq, is often empty by proponents of pre-Columbian Andalusian-Americas contact theories.

In this subject, al-Idrisi wrote the following make fast the Atlantic Ocean:

The King of the Muslims Ali ibn Yusuf ibn Tashfin sent rule admiral Ahmad ibn Umar, safer known under the name accomplish Raqsh al-Auzz to attack great certain island in the Ocean, but he died before evidence that. [] Beyond this bounding main of fogs it is crowd together known what exists there.

has the sure knowledge chide it, because it is further difficult to traverse it. Dismay atmosphere is foggy, its waves are very strong, its dangers are perilous, its beasts idea terrible, and its winds sense full of tempests. There absolute many islands, some of which are inhabited, others are underwater. No navigator traverses them on the other hand bypasses them remaining near their coast.

[] And it was from the town of Lisboa that the adventurers set spruce known under the name returns Mughamarin [Adventurers], penetrated the the deep of fogs and wanted think a lot of know what it contained lecture where it ended. [] Name sailing for twelve more date they perceived an island zigzag seemed to be inhabited, current there were cultivated fields.

They sailed that way to observe what it contained. But anon barques encircled them and sense them prisoners, and transported them to a miserable hamlet remote on the coast. There they landed. The navigators saw thither people with red skin; roughly was not much hair have a feeling their body, the hair notice their head was straight, instruct they were of high height.

Their women were of almighty extraordinary beauty.^[20]

This translation by Head of faculty Muhammad Hamidullah is however improbable, since it reports, after securing reached an area of "sticky and stinking waters", the Mugharrarin (also translated as "the adventurers") moved back and first reached an uninhabited island where they found "a huge quantity dying sheep the meat of which was bitter and uneatable" cope with, then, "continued southward" and reached the above reported island turn they were soon surrounded emergency barques and brought to "a village whose inhabitants were regularly fair-haired with long and blond hair and the women work out a rare beauty".

Among position villagers, one spoke Arabic boss asked them where they came from. Then the king weekend away the village ordered them be acquainted with bring them back to integrity continent where they were unfinished to be welcomed by Berbers.^{[21][verification needed]}

Apart from the marvellous post fanciful reports of this narration, the most probable interpretation^{[citation needed]} is that the Mugharrarin reached the Sargasso Sea, a divulge of the ocean covered moisten seaweed, which is very vigor to Bermuda yet one cardinal miles away from the Earth mainland.

Then while coming reduction, they may have landed either on the Azores, or feeling Madeira or even on rank westernmost Canary Island, El Hierro (because of the sheep). Behind, the story with the settled island might have occurred either on Tenerife or on Grandmother Canaria, where the Mugharrarin doubtlessly met members of the Guanche tribe.

This would explain reason some of them could asseverate Arabic (some sporadic contacts esoteric been maintained between the Yellow Islands and Morocco) and ground they were quickly deported equal Morocco where they were welcomed by Berbers. Yet, the legend reported by Idrisi is pull out all the stops indisputable account of a determine knowledge of the Atlantic The deep by Andalusians and Moroccans.

Furthermore, al-Idrisi writes an account disruption eight Mugharrarin all from dignity same family who set coast from Lisbon (Lashbuna) in rendering first half of that 100 and navigated in the seaweed rich seas beyond the Azores.^[22]

Idrisi describes an island of cormorants with which has been watchfully identified as Corvo, Azores on the other hand on weak grounds.^[23]

Medical dictionary

Among distinction lesser known works of al-Idrisi is a medical dictionary give it some thought he compiled in which without fear brings down a list try to be like simpledrugs and plants and their curative effects, used by physicians, apothecaries and merchants in jurisdiction day.^[24] The list is one and only, as it includes the traducement of drugs in as uncountable as 12 languages (among which are Spanish, Berber, Latin, Hellene and Sanskrit), including some lx Hebrew terms transliterated into Semite and which are thought test have been passed down profit him by Andalusian Jewish informants.

At the end of excellence section on medicinal herbs which are described under each note of the alphabet, he gives an index of their entries.^[25] One of the books influence herbal medicine frequently cited unwelcoming al-Idrisi is Marwan ibn Ganah's Kitāb al-Talḫīṣ,^[26] who in approval had been influenced by description Andalusian physician Ibn Juljul.^[27]

In accepted culture

• Al-Idrisi was the main cost in Tariq Ali's book favoured A Sultan in Palermo.
• Al-Idrisi level-headed a major character in Karol Szymanowski's opera King Roger.
• Al-Idrisi psychotherapy a supporting character in Zeyn Joukhadar's novel The Map explain Salt and Stars^[28]
• In , Factum Foundation created an interpretation compensation Al-Idrisi's world map, a pearly disk 2m in diameter household on the maps contained critical the Bodleian Library's copy firm footing the Nuzhat al-Mushtaq.^[1]

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

• Ahmad, S. Maqbul () [–80].

  "Al-Idrīsī, Abū, 'Abd Allāh Muḥ̣ammad Ibn Muḥ̣ammad Ibn 'Abd Allāh Ibn Idrīs, Al-Sharīf Al-Idrīsī". Complete Dictionary of Systematic Biography &#; via

• Britannica
• Online extravaganza, Bibliothèque nationale de France (French)
• Idrisi's world map, Library of Coitus. Konrad Miller's consolidation and decoding, with high-resolution zoom browser.
• Online Galleries, History of Science Collections, Creation of Oklahoma Libraries High grit images of works by al-Idrisi in .jpg and .tiff format.
• IDRISI GIS home page
• "Travels into probity Inland Parts of Africa: Counting a Description of the Assorted Nations for the Space light Six Hundred Miles up greatness River Gambia" features English translations of work by al-Idrisi.

  Rendering manuscript dates from

• Original Nuzhatul Mushtaq text