Muhammad Al- Idrisi
Asiatic Muslim Geographer

Vocabulary:

• Geography: a science dealing with the physical features of the earth's surface. This includes the locations of different areas and the people, culture, and climates of these areas.
• Geographer: one who studies the physical features of the earth's surface.
• Cartography: the science and art of creating maps.
  
• Cartographer: one who creates maps.
  

This original map shows Africa on top [north].

Before the recent inventions of satellites and GPS, people relied on paper maps to get where they needed to go. Muhammad al-Idrissi (known as al-Idrissi) was a Muslim geographer from Morocco. He was born around 1100 C.E. (a long, long time ago!). Al-Idrissi used his knowledge of geography to become one of the world's greatest cartographers.

In 1154 C.E., King Roger II of Sicily was unsatisfied with the quality of maps that were available at that time. He hired Muhammad al-Idrisi to create a more accurate world map. Al-Idrisi sent geographers around the eastern world to gather more knowledge for his  map. With this information, he produced an advanced and much-improved map called the Tabula Rogeriana. The map displays  northern Africa, Asia, and Europe. He made about 70 other maps as well.

Isn't it amazing that someone can make a map without modern technology? Al-Idrissi's map was the best map available for many centuries until new knowledge brought forth new maps.

Interesting Facts:

• On the Tabula Rogeriana, the south actually appears on the top, where we are used to seeing the north.
• Muslim geographers understood the world was round while Christians believed it was flat.
  

This version has been turned upside down. Africa is shown on the bottom [south] as we are used to seeing it.