# Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti

> andalusian geographer (1100–1165)

**Wikidata**: [Q173441](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q173441)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_al-Idrisi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/abu-abdullah-muhammad-al-idrisi-al-qurtubi-al-hasani-as-sabti

## Summary
Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti was a renowned Andalusian geographer, cartographer, and traveler who lived from approximately 1100 to 1165. He is most famous for creating the *Tabula Rogeriana* in 1154, a groundbreaking world map and accompanying geographical text commissioned by King Roger II of Sicily. His work stands as a monumental achievement in the history of cartography, synthesizing Islamic and European geographical knowledge of the medieval period.

## Biography
- **Born**: c. 1100 (exact date varies between 1099, 1100, and 1110 in sources)
- **Nationality**: Andalusian (Islamic Spain)
- **Education**: Not specified in the provided source material.
- **Known for**: Creating the *Tabula Rogeriana* (1154), a seminal work in cartography and geography.
- **Employer(s)**: Court of King Roger II of Sicily (implied by the commissioning of the *Tabula Rogeriana*).
- **Field(s)**: Geography, Cartography, Travel, History, Botany, Writing.

## Contributions
- **Tabula Rogeriana (1154)**: Al-Idrisi's most significant contribution is the *Tabula Rogeriana*, a world map and accompanying geographical treatise completed in 1154. This work combined the geographical knowledge of the Islamic world with that of Europe, creating one of the most accurate maps of the medieval world.
- **Geographical Text**: Alongside the map, he produced a detailed text describing the physical and human geography of the known world, serving as a foundational resource for scholars for centuries.
- **Travel and Exploration**: As a traveler, he gathered empirical data through voyages and interactions, which informed his cartographic and geographical writings.
- **Synthesis of Knowledge**: He successfully integrated diverse geographical traditions, acting as a bridge between Eastern and Western scientific understanding during the 12th century.

## FAQs
**Who was Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi?**
He was an Andalusian geographer and cartographer active in the 12th century, known for his extensive travels and his scholarly work in mapping the world. He is often referred to by his full name, Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti.

**What is the *Tabula Rogeriana*?**
The *Tabula Rogeriana* is a famous world map and geographical text created by al-Idrisi in 1154. It is considered one of the most advanced maps of the medieval period, renowned for its accuracy and comprehensive coverage of the known world.

**What fields of study did al-Idrisi contribute to?**
Al-Idrisi made contributions to geography, cartography, history, botany, and travel literature. His work is recognized as a significant instance of scholarly output in these diverse disciplines.

**When did al-Idrisi live?**
He was born around the year 1100 (with some sources citing 1099 or 1110) and died in 1165 or 1166. His life spanned the 12th century, a period of significant cultural and scientific exchange.

**Why is al-Idrisi considered important in the history of geography?**
He is important for synthesizing Islamic and European geographical knowledge into a single, coherent work. His *Tabula Rogeriana* set a new standard for mapmaking and remained a primary reference for geographers for centuries.

## Why They Matter
Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi's work fundamentally altered the medieval understanding of the world's geography. By commissioning the *Tabula Rogeriana*, King Roger II of Sicily gained a tool that unified fragmented geographical knowledge, facilitating trade, exploration, and administrative planning. Without al-Idrisi's synthesis of data from travelers and scholars across the Islamic world and Europe, the progression of cartographic science would have been significantly delayed. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of cross-cultural scientific collaboration, providing a rigorous empirical foundation for future generations of geographers and explorers.

## Notable For
- Creating the *Tabula Rogeriana* in 1154, a landmark achievement in cartographic history.
- Being a prominent Andalusian geographer who bridged Islamic and European scholarly traditions.
- Serving as a key figure in the fields of geography, cartography, and travel literature.
- Producing a work that remained a primary geographical reference for centuries.
- Holding the distinction of being a polymath involved in botany, history, and writing alongside geography.
- Being recognized in numerous international databases and library catalogs with multiple identifiers.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti was born in the early 12th century, with sources citing dates of 1099, 1100, or 1110. He was of Andalusian origin, hailing from the Islamic Spain region. His full name reflects his lineage and place of origin, identifying him as a member of the Hasani and Idrisi lineages. He is classified as a human and an instance of the entity Q5. His life ended in 1165 or 1166, marking the conclusion of a life dedicated to scholarly pursuits.

### Professional Roles and Fields of Study
Al-Idrisi was a multifaceted scholar whose work spanned several disciplines. He is primarily identified as a geographer, a scholar whose area of study is the terrestrial surface and the societies that inhabit it. He was also a cartographer, a person preparing geographical maps, and a traveler who made voyages to gather data. His expertise extended to history, botany, and general writing. He is recognized as an instance of Q1734662, Q901402, Q1350189, Q201788, Q2374149, Q36180, and Q12356615, reflecting his diverse professional roles. His field of work encompasses Q42515 (Geography), Q1071 (Cartography), and Q61509 (Travel).

### The *Tabula Rogeriana* and Major Works
The crowning achievement of al-Idrisi's career is the *Tabula Rogeriana*, a work created in 1154. This entity is explicitly defined as a 1154 work by Muhammad al Idrisi. It represents a massive undertaking in cartography, combining the science of maps with detailed textual descriptions. The work is linked to the concept of cartography as a branch of science regarding maps and cartographic work. This creation is his most notable work, identified as Q1089336 in knowledge bases. The *Tabula Rogeriana* stands as a testament to the systematic academic discipline of geography, which studies territories, landscapes, and regions formed by interactions between societies and the terrestrial surface.

### Scholarly Impact and Methodology
Al-Idrisi's work exemplifies the rigorous methods of geography, which include terrain mapping and geosystem analysis. His approach integrated natural and human aspects of the Earth, making his work foundational for understanding physical and social dynamics. He contributed to the development of systematic knowledge and methodology in the field. His work supports evidence-based decision-making and bridges the gap between abstract mathematical laws and real-world social phenomena. The *Tabula Rogeriana* and his other writings are documented in scientific literature, sharing research findings and theories that were ahead of their time.

### Legacy and Recognition
The legacy of al-Idrisi is preserved through numerous identifiers and database entries. He is associated with the Library of Congress Subject Headings code 304.6 and the Dewey Decimal Classification 314. His work is indexed in international databases such as the National Library of Spain (XX525534) and the National Library of Israel (987007548142505171). He has a significant digital footprint with a sitelink count of 89 across various Wikipedia projects. His name appears in multiple languages, including "Muhammad al-Idrisi" in English, and he is linked to various concept identifiers like concept425 and concept7616.

### Identifiers and Metadata
Al-Idrisi is cataloged under a vast array of identifiers reflecting his global recognition. These include:
- **ISNI**: 0000000453077343
- **VIAF**: 210905324, 6428167807443718130004
- **GND**: 119093529
- **LCCN**: n82146476
- **BnF**: 121554181
- **NLA**: 36507741
- **WorldCat**: OL6156602A, OL344861A, OL149346A
- **Wikidata**: Q1089336 (Notable Work), Q5 (Instance of)
- **Other IDs**: P18 (Images), P213, P214, P227, P244, P268, P269, P271, P373, P396, P409, P569 (Birth), P570 (Death), P646, P648, P691, P906, P950, P1005, P1006, P1015, P1207, P1273, P1296, P1309, P1315, P1368, P1417, P1472, P1580, P1766, P1871, P2163, P2799, P2924, P3065, P3219, P3222, P3365, P3430, P3630, P3965, P3987, P4223, P4342, P4459, P5492, P5587, P6327, P6394, P6404, P6706, P7058, P7293, P7305, P7314, P7400, P7666, P7699, P7744, P7902, P7982, P7986, P8034, P8081, P8179, P8189, P8313, P8349, P8603, P8750, P8795, P8826, P9037, P9081, P9097, P9179, P9222, P9534, P9943, P9964, P9984, P10227, P10242, P10297, P10553, P11252, P11496, P11514, P11686, P12385, P12435, P12458, P12582, P13049, P13166, P13204, P13371, P13576, P13591, P13691, P13750, P13818.

### Visual and Cultural Representation
Visual representations of al-Idrisi include statues and images such as "Estatua de Al-Idrisi bajo el baluarte de los Mallorquines, Ceuta (5).jpg," "Al-Idrisi, Sayr mulhimah min al-Sharq wa-al-Gharb.png," and "Estatua de Al-Idrisi.jpg." He is also associated with the file "Castello di Sperlinga 56.jpg." His name is linked to audio resources like "Nl-Geografie-article.ogg." He is recognized in the category "Al-Idrisi" on Wikimedia Commons.

### Aliases and Nomenclature
Al-Idrisi is known by several aliases and variations of his name, including:
- Abû abd ʻAllâh Mohammad ʻibn Mohammad ʻibn ʻIdris
- Muhammad Idrisi
- al-Idrisi
- Sexson
- Abu ʻAbdallâh Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn ʻAbdallâh ibn Idrîs aš-Šarîf Al-Idrîsi
- Muhammad al-Idrisi
- Edrisinik
- Abu Abd-Allah ibn Muhammad al-Idrisi
- al-Idrīsī, Abū ʽAbd Allāh Muḥammad
- idrisi-serif
- idrs
- alidrisi
- mukhammad-al-idrisi-afb1ef

### Historical Context and Related Fields
His work is situated within the broader context of geography, which is a science studying the terrestrial surface and societies. This field is related to cartography, demography, and environmental studies. Al-Idrisi's contributions are part of a lineage that includes figures like Ptolemy, Al-Biruni, and Abu Saʿīd Gardēzī. His work supports the understanding of phenomena such as the decline in amphibian populations and the demographics of specific groups. The field he contributed to is taught through educational programs and documented in scientific literature, supported by institutions like the International Geographical Union and the Royal Geographical Society.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. [Geographicus Rare Antique Maps biographical dictionary of cartographers](https://www.geographicus.com/P/RareMaps/alidrisi)
3. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
4. BnF authorities
5. datos.bne.es
6. Integrated Authority File
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. data.bibliotheken.nl
9. IdRef
10. [Source](https://www.literairgent.be/lexicon/al-idrissi)
11. Library of the World's Best Literature
12. CiNii Research
13. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes
14. SNAC
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index9.html)
17. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
18. Enciclopedia Treccani
19. [LIBRIS. 2014](https://libris.kb.se/katalogisering/zw9c6p3h5vljnsn)
20. Dizionario di Storia
21. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/idrisi-serif)
22. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
23. HMML Authority File