As well as the planisphere, al idrisi also made a world map which divided earth north of the equator into 70 sections and wrote a book titled kita rujar the book of roger or roger s book. Dec 27, 2017 this arab muslim scholar, al idrisi, is one of the most famous geographers of all time. The following text cgid4 fully explores the preface and prologue texts of al idrisi, and also explains the metrological basis for the circular map. Using 400,000 drachmas worth of silver the equivalent of 1,720 kg of silver. In 1154, after 18 years of toil, alidrisi produced his magnum opus, a map which came to be called the tabula rogeriana, or the book of roger. Sep 21, 2017 alidrisis great work of descriptive geography is known as kitab rujar, or alkitab arrujari the book of roger or in latin. Al idrisi was born in ceuta in morocco, a descendant of the.
The book of roger in latin, is a description of the world and world map created by the arab geographer, muhammad al idrisi, in 1154. Muhammad alidrisi muhammad alidrisi the tabula rogeriana, drawn by alidrisi for roger ii of sicily in 1154, one of the most advanced ancient world maps. Modern consolidation, created from the 70 doublepage spreads of the original atlas. Created by arab geographer muhammad alidrisi for king roger ii of sicily, the tabula rogeriana latin for the book of roger contains both an extraordinarily accurate partialworld map, and cultural and political commentaries on the seven climate zones it represents. The entertainment for he who longs to travel the world was an arabic geographical book written in sicily in 1154 by the muslim scholar alsharif alidrisi. The arab geographer muhammad ibn muhammad al idrisi 11001165 wrote the book of roger, a world geography, for king roger ii of sicily.
Nov 21, 2011 in 1154, after 18 years of toil, alidrisi produced his magnum opus, a map which came to be called the tabula rogeriana, or the book of roger. That of course is the translation from the french text, but the direct arabic translation reads. Nuzhat almushtaq fi ikhtiraq alafaq, or the delight of one who wishes to traverse the regions of the world, or more simply alkitab alrujari, the book of roger. The book was written in arabic and remained the most accurate map of the world for 300 years. In a world map to which the book acted as a guide, idrisi divided the earth into seven horizontal climatic zones, each divided longitudinally into ten sections.
The great wall of china can be seen in the bottom left. Making a world setting to work, al idrisi consulted all the books and travel reports he could find, synthesizing knowledge from arabic, latin and classical sources on the subject. Abu abdullah muhammad ibn muhammad ibn abdullah alidrisi, also known as asshareef alidrisi, was one of the greatest geographers and cartographers in the 12 th century ce, if not the top geographer of his time, one whose capacity at visualising and putting into words what the world looked like was not matched by any contemporary mind in europe where he resided at. Alidrisi was commissioned by roger ii who was no stranger to philosophy, mathematics, and forays into unusual inventions to construct a map of the known world. Alidrisis muslim beliefs are also reflected in this map, as mecca in the arabian peninsula is placed in the center of the map glies, 1977. Alidrisi, the book of roger, and the importance of water funci. In the year 18, the royal palace at palermo, sicily was the scene of a longawaited meeting between an unusual christian king and a distinguished muslim scholar.
Some scholars regard him as the greatest geographer and cartographer of the middle ages. The book was completed shortly before king roger s death. Muhammad ibn muhammad alidrisithe arab geographer muhammad ibn muhammad alidrisi 11001165 wrote the book of roger, a world geography, for king roger ii of sicily. Alidrisi arbeitete 18 jahre lang am hofe des normannischen konigs roger ii. Alidrisi understood the world to be round, and the disc. Muhammad al idrisi was born in the andalusian city of ceuta, a spanish enclave in morocco, in 1100 ad where his grandfather had settled after fleeing from malaga in the year 1057 ad. This monumental compendium, called alkitab arrujari the book of roger, is the most important geographic work of the period. From al idrisi we learn that roger s territorial hold over north. The book is recognized for its groundbreaking world map and its accompanying descriptions and information regarding the areas shown in the map. The tabula rogeriana, also known in english as the book of roger, is the finest work of geography of its age. Tabula rogeriana latin for book of roger is the name of a publication created by. Alidrisis ideas on mare tenebrarum clarification needed are alluded to in pascal merciers book entitled night train to lisbon. Alidrisis ideas on mare tenebrarum are alluded to in pascal mercier s book entitled night train to lisbon.
The map of roger in latin, is a description of the world and world map created by the arab geographer muhammad al idrisi in 1154. Alidrisi and the king sent expeditions to remote places to record and draw what they saw. This is one of the oldest copies of alidrisis world map, with indication of the seven climates of the world. He also made original contributions in medicinal plants. Alidrisi was the main character in tariq alis book entitled a sultan in palermo. Note that the north is at the bottom, and so the map appears upside down. Al idrisi was born in ceuta in morocco, a descendant of the sharifian hammudid dynasty, which had ruled over malaga. Alidrisi worked on the commentaries and illustrations of the map for fifteen years at the court of the norman king roger ii of sicily, who commissioned the work around 18. Alsharif alidrisi, world map, 1154 a history of the world. Al idrisi s ideas on mare tenebrarum clarification needed are alluded to in pascal merciers book entitled night train to lisbon. Alidrisi sent travelers and geographers around the world to gather knowledge for this updated map and others. Nov 21, 20 the entertainment for he who longs to travel the world was an arabic geographical book written in sicily in 1154 by the muslim scholar alsharif alidrisi. Born in ceuta, morocco, across the strait from spain, alidrisi was.
You can follow the links below to read more about the recording and making of alidrisis world map, watch the short film below or read the book re. The book of roger by brady hibbs scholarly commons. The following text cgid4 fully explores the preface and prologue texts of alidrisi, and also explains the. The following text cgid4 fully explores the preface and prologue texts of alidrisi, and also explains the metrological basis for the circular map. Alidrisi, the book of roger, and the importance of water. Alsharif alidrisi, world map, 1154 a history of the. The book is called the book of roger tabula rogeriana in latin. This arab muslim scholar, alidrisi, is one of the most famous geographers of all time. The author was possibly born in morocco in 1100 and began his travels at the age of 16, visiting asia. His work, marking the end of the classical age of arab geography, sums up much of its achievem. In 18 ce king roger ii of sicily asked an arab geographer muhammad alidrisi to draw and describe a map of the world. Alidrisi settled in palermo, sicily, at the tolerant and enlightened court of the norman king roger ii of sicily, where he was charged with the production of a book on geography.
Alidrisi is a major character in karol szymanowksis 1926 opera king roger. The silver planisphere has been lost, but the maps and book have survived. The book of roger is a 12th century geographical compendium written in arabic by alidrisi. Muhammad alidrisi biography childhood, life achievements. Alidrisi was commissioned by roger ii who was no stranger to philosophy. Roger commissioned alidrisi to create maps for him of the entire known world. Fragments of muhammad alidrisis tabula rogeriana in. Almost years ago, he drew one of the most detailed world maps ever. Loud and others published the book of roger by abu abdallah alidrisi find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. One author, muhammad abdulghani hassan, broke the trend, and, in 1971 published a book about the life and times of alidrisi in his book asshareef alidrisi.
Icon of the renaissance empires of discovery christopher columbus the publishing industry king henry viii the scientific method. This, together, with the accompanying map has been referred to as the tabula rogeriana a world map and description made by alidrisi for the. Alidrisis works had a profound influence on european writers such as. Muhammad alidrisi was born in the andalusian city of ceuta, a spanish enclave in morocco, in 1100 ad where his grandfather had settled after fleeing from malaga in the year 1057 ad. He wrote one of the greatest works of medieval geography, kitab nuzhat almushtaq fi ikhtiraq alafaq the pleasure excursion of one who is eager to traverse the regions of the world. Al idrisi is a major character in karol szymanowksis 1926 opera king roger.
Al idrisi later wrote two comprehensive geographical texts, apparently for roger s son william ii. The result of his work was a manuscript titled nuzhat almustaq fikhtiraq alafaq, or the book of roger. Abu addullah muhammad ibn muhammad ibn addallah ibn idrisi 10991166 was the creator of one of the most famous cartographic works in history, the kitab ruyar, or the book of roger. Tabula rogeriana latin for book of roger is the name of a publication created by arab cartographer muhammad alidrisi in 1154 under the guidance of king roger ii of sicily. This, together, with the accompanying map has been referred to as the tabula rogeriana a world map and description made by alidrisi for the norman king of sicily roger ii in the year. Jul 16, 2019 as part of this campaign, he asked the young alidrisi to develop a geographical compendium of the world, and an atlas, a task to which alidrisi devoted fifteen years. But, actually, the work he is most known for is the tabula rogeriana, a collection of maps attached to the book that offers a geographical worldview very different to the one that we are used to in the west. The map of roger in latin, is a description of the world and world map created by the arab geographer muhammad alidrisi in 1154. When king roger ii died in 1154, charif al idrisi lost power inside the royal court. He wrote one of the greatest works of medieval geography, kitab nuzhat al mushtaq fi ikhtiraq al afaq the. Alidrisi made a globe of silver sphere weighing 400 kilograms for king roger ii of sicily.
The book of roger in latin, is a description of the world and world map created by the arab geographer, muhammad alidrisi, in 1154. Jan 27, 2020 roger ii hired alidrisi to create an updated world map. Setting to work, alidrisi consulted all the books and travel reports he could find, synthesizing knowledge from arabic, latin and classical sources on the subject. Alidrisi10991166 arab geographer and cartographer alidrisi also known by his short name alsharif alidrisi alqurtubi was one of the most renowned arab geographers of his day. A lot of this post will be based on that book inshaallah. Maqbul ahmad, al idrlsi, in dictionary of scientific bio. Al idrisi 1150 kitab ruyar book of roger written in sicily to the left. Muhammad al idrisi muhammad al idrisi the tabula rogeriana, drawn by al idrisi for roger ii of sicily in 1154, one of the most advanced ancient world maps. Attached to the book, there was a map of the known world, on a silver. Mar 09, 2017 roger commissioned al idrisi to create maps for him of the entire known world. Muhammad alidrisi 109911656 was a moroccan muslim geographer, cartographer, egyptologist and. In the book of roger kitab ruyar or nuzhat almustaq fi ikhtiraq alafaq, compiled ad1153 for king roger 2nd of sicily by mohammad alidrisi, which is an. It not only uses official records, but also student newspapers, political pamphlets and reminiscences collected through interviews. Maqbul ahmad, india and the neighbouring territories in the kitab nuzhat almu12taqfikhtiraq alafaq ofaisharifalidrisi leiden.
The book of roger by abu abdallah alidrisi request pdf. Muhammad alidrisi 1100 1165 born in ceuta in andalusian spain was the arab writer of a famous treatise on geography that was loosely based on ptolemy and updated through alidrisis time. It was commissioned by the islands norman ruler, king roger ii, and drew on greek, islamic and christian knowledge in creating one of the greatest medieval compendiums of geographical. Feb 08, 2012 the nuzhat almushtaq fikhtiraq alafaq lit. Alidrisis great work of descriptive geography is known as kitab rujar, or alkitab arrujari the book of roger or in latin. It was a chart of the known world comprising europe, asia, and north africa and the horn of africa and extending all the way to southeast asia. For reasons which are unclear, he settled at the court of king roger ii of sicily r. Alidrisi was the descendant of idrisid, the ruler of morocco, who was a direct descendant of hazrat hasa, the grandson of prophet muhammad. Al idrisi was the main character in tariq alis book entitled a sultan in palermo. Al idrisi worked on the commentaries and illustrations of the map for fifteen years at the court of the norman king roger ii of sicily, who commissioned the work around 18. Abu addullah muhammad ibn muhammad ibn addallah ibn idrisi 10991166 was the creator of one of the most famous cartographic works in. Al idrisi was the descendant of idrisid, the ruler of morocco, who was a direct descendant of hazrat hasa, the grandson of prophet muhammad. Nuzhat al mushtaq fi ikhtiraq al afaq, or the delight of one who wishes to traverse the regions of the world, or more simply al kitab al rujari, the book of roger.
The text commences with flowery words concerning god and the illustrious roger king of sicily, of italy. After the massacre of muslims in sicily in 1161, al idrisi fleed the island. Rabat king roger ii invited charif alidrisi to his kingdom and gave him a high ranking in the kingdoms scientific circles. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The sources of the nile according to idris map from the paris manuscript idrissi cairo manuscript.
It was a chart of the known world comprising europe, asia, and north africa and the horn of africa. The book of roger is a 12th century geographical compendium written in arabic by al idrisi. Ashsharif alidrisi, arab geographer, an adviser to roger ii, the norman king of sicily. Under the service of king roger ii of sicily, he dispatched draftsmen around the world and used the information they returned to compile the most uptodate world maps of his time.
Idrisi article about idrisi by the free dictionary. The book tells the story, not just from the point of view of administrators and academics, but also from those of students and support staff such as secretaries, technicians and engineers. His work, marking the end of the classical age of arab geography, sums up much of its achievement. Source for information on muhammad ibn muhammad alidrisi. Aramco world magazine july august 1977 volume 28 no. Roger ii hired alidrisi to create an updated world map. Maqbul ahmad 1 book ofroger university of chicago press. It was comprised of a silver disc some 80 inches across and weighing over 300 pounds 203 cm and 7 kg with alidrisis map engraved upon it and an accompanying book. The arab geographer muhammad ibn muhammad alidrisi 11001165 wrote the book of roger, a world geography, for king roger ii of sicily. Al idrisi and the king sent expeditions to remote places to record and draw what they saw. As part of this campaign, he asked the young alidrisi to develop a geographical compendium of the world, and an atlas, a task to which alidrisi devoted fifteen years. It was to contain all available data on the location and climate of the worlds main centers of population. Thus it is easy to surmise that the small paper copy included in the book of roger is just that, a diagram of the main map for reference purposes.