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Geography & history

Al-Idrīsī

Also found as Idrisi

Al-Idrisi was a geographer who worked in Sicily in the twelfth century.

An artist’s rendering of al-Idrisi at the court of Roger II of Sicily.
An artist’s rendering of al-Idrisi at the court of Roger II of Sicily. From 1001 Inventions, printed page 236.
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A map made from many journeys

Ages 7–9

Al-Idrisi was a geographer who worked in Sicily in the twelfth century.

King Roger II supported al-Idrisi’s work on a detailed description and map of the world.

1001 Inventions describes al-Idrisi gathering information from travelers while making his maps.

His geographical work included descriptions of cultures and societies, as well as physical places.

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Find Al-Idrisi in our books

Use the printed page in a physical book, or the PDF page in your copy. Open a reference for the surrounding text.

Lost Islamic History

Firas Alkhateeb

2 reading locations

Printed p. 84 PDF p. 100Reading page

“…best examples is the atlas made by Muhammad al-Idrisi, who lived in twelfth-century Sicily . Although Sicily had previously been part of the Muslim world until its conquest by the Normans in the…”

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Printed p. 85 PDF p. 101Reading page

“…of this account. Another account is recorded by al-Idrisi, who wrote that a group of Muslim sailors ventured for thirty-one days across the Atlantic Ocean and landed on an unknown island. They were…”

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1001 Inventions

Edited by Salim T. S. al-Hassani

10 reading locations

Printed p. 22 PDF p. 25Reading page

“…like the global map drawn by Moroccan scholar Al-Idrisi, who created it centuries before Marco Polo or Columbus, and the oldestsurviving detailed map showing the Americas, drawn by 16th-century Turkish naval captain Piri…”

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Printed p. 28 PDF p. 31Reading page

“….. ......... .............. .. .................. .... ... , Al-Idrisi is born. He il produced a world map for Norman king Roger II of Sicily. uwh o so ever treats people wit hout kn…”

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Printed p. 60 PDF p. 63Reading page

“…At this same time, Muslim geographer and philosopher Al-Idrisi said that woolen carpets were Carpets are draped over camels on long jou rneys to add some comfort for the rider. They also serve…”

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Printed p. 127 PDF p. 130Reading page

“…cou ntry. According to 12t h-century geog rapher AI-Idrisi, it was built of qibti yya stone and included marble pillars. The dam follows a zigzag course across the river, a shape that shows…”

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Printed p. 147 PDF p. 150Reading page

“…coasts of North Africa, near Sicily and Sardinia. Al-Idrisi, the 12th-century geographer, gives an account of coral gathering: "Coral is a plant which has grown like trees and subseque ntly petrifi.ed deep in…”

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Printed p. 236 PDF p. 239Reading page

“…----- - An artist' s rendering shows Al-Idrisi in the court of Roger II of Sicily, with his circular map that showed he knew that the world was spherical. essayist. He wrote…”

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Printed p. 237 PDF p. 240Reading page

“…HISTORY OF EUROPE ON 12 TH-CENTU RY GEOGRAPHER AL -IDRISI Muslim geographers agreed the world was round and made detailed measurements of the globe. \\OR l.D: GE O() R.\ I'I IY "Widely rec…”

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Printed p. 242 PDF p. 245Reading page

“…Other important maps include 70 regional maps that Al-Idrisi made for the Norman king, Roger II, in Sicily, which together made up an atlas of the world as it was then known. He…”

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Printed p. 315 PDF p. 318Biographical entry

“…as Ave nzoar; Seville, Spain; physician, and surgeon. Al-Idrisi (1099-116 6); Ceuta (Morocco) and Palermo, Sicily; geographer and cartographer . Ikhwan al-Safa', also known as Brothers of Purity (ca 983); Basra, Iraq; group…”

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Printed p. 317 PDF p. 320Biographical entry

“…in geography and support of the Muslim geographer Al-Idrisi. Sabur ibn Sahl, also spelled Shapur (d. 869); Jundishapur , Iran; physician and pharmacist. Saif al-Dawla, Abu al-Hasan ibn Hamdan (916- 967); ruler of…”

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FROM THE RESEARCH ARCHIVE

Follow the research

The Tabula Rogeriana, world mapping, and geographical descriptions for Roger II of Sicily.

This summary comes from the collected Islamic Scientific Heritage posts. It has not been independently verified in full. A book name match alone does not confirm every claim in a post.

Research note: Claims about later explorers directly using his maps need verification.

19 original research posts

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