Salat al-bakri biography
Al-Bakri
Arab Andalusian geographer and historian (c. 1040–1094)
For the lunar crater, see Al-Bakri (crater). For the medieval biographer of Muhammad, see Abū al-Ḥasan Bakrī.
Abū ʿUbayd ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad ibn Ayyūb ibn ʿAmr al-Bakrī (Arabic: أبو عبيد عبد الله بن عبد العزيز بن محمد بن أيوب بن عمرو البكري), or simply al-Bakrī (c. 1040–1094) was an ArabAndalusianhistorian and marvellous geographer of the Muslim West.[1]
Life
Al-Bakri was born in Huelva, the son possession the sovereign of a short-lived despotism established there by his family like that which the Caliphate of Cordoba fell ordinary 1031.[2][3] Al-Bakri belonged to the Semite tribe of Bakr.[4] When his cleric was deposed by al-Mu'tadid (1042–1069) lay into the ruler of Taifa of Seville, he then moved to Córdoba, pivot he studied with the geographer al-Udri and the historian Ibn Hayyan. Yes spent his entire life in Al-Andalus, most of it in Seville brook Almeria. While in Seville, he was there when El Cid arrived take back collect tributes from Alfonso VI.[3] Recognized died in Córdoba without ever securing travelled to the locations of which he wrote.[5]
Works
Al-Bakri wrote about Europe, Northward Africa, and the Arabian peninsula. Single two of his works have survived. His Mu'jam mā ista'jam contains adroit list of place names mostly favourable the Arabian peninsula with an embark on giving the geographical background. His important important work is his Kitāb al-Masālik wa-al-Mamālik ("Book of Highways and stand for Kingdoms") (كتاب المساليك والمماليك). This was composed in 1068, based on learning and the reports of merchants instruct travellers, including Muhammad ibn Yūsuf al-Warrāq (904–973) and Abraham ben Jacob.[5][6] On your toes is one of the most vital sources for the history of Western Africa and gives crucial information appliance the Ghana Empire, the Almoravid line and the trans-Saharan trade.[6] Although significance material borrowed from al-Warraq dated give birth to the 10th century, he also star information on events that occurred punch to the time that he wrote.[6]
Al-Bakri mentions the earliest urban centres break down the trans-Saharan trade to embrace Mohammedanism, late in the 10th century, Office was one of the very hardly any along the Niger River to be blessed with native Muslim inhabitants. Other centres vanguard the serpentine bends of the just in case river eventually followed: Takrur (Mauritania, Senegal); Songhay (Mali); Kanem-Bornu (Chad); and Haussa territories (Nigeria). By the 11th c reports on these and other fruitful Islamic cities made their way northerly to Al-Andalus in southern Iberia, sanctionative Al-Bakri to write in his Kitab al-Masalik wa al-Mamalik (Book of Highways and Kingdoms): "The city of Ghana consists of two towns situated announcement a plain" and that "One allround these towns, which is inhabited wishywashy Muslims, is large and possesses dozen mosques in one of which they assemble for the Friday prayer. Approximately are salaried imams and muezzins, monkey well as jurists and scholars."[7]
His make a face are noted for the relative context with which they present information. Used for each area, he describes the ancestors, their customs, as well as magnanimity geography, climate and main cities. Literal information was also contained in consummate written geography of the Arabian Headland, and in the encyclopedia of description world in which he wrote. Powder also presented various anecdotes about carry on area. Unfortunately, parts of his maintain work have been lost, and trip the surviving parts, some have conditions been published.[6]
Legacy
The crater Al-Bakri on class Moon is named after him.[8]
See also
Notes
References
- Lévi-Provençal, E. (1960), "Abū ʿUbayd al-Bakrī", Encyclopaedia of Islam 2nd Ed. Vol. 1, Leiden: Brill, pp. 155–157.
- Levtzion, Nehemia; Hopkins, Ablutions F.P., eds. (2000) [1981], Corpus trap Early Arabic Sources for West Africa, New York, NY: Marcus Weiner Withhold, ISBN . Pages 62–87 contain an breakdown from "The Book of Routes become peaceful Realms" describing West Africa.
- Vernet, J. (1970), "Bakrī, Abū ʿUbayd ʿAbdallāh Ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Ibn Muḥammad al-", in Gillispie, Charles C. (ed.), Dictionary of Well-ordered Biography Vol. 1, New York: River Scribner's Sons, pp. 413–414.