World-maps for Finding the Direction and Distance to Mecca: Examples of Innovation and Tradition in Islamic Science (Islamic Philosophy, Theology & Science: Texts & Studies) - Hardcover

King, David A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9004113673 ISBN 13: 9789004113671

Publisher: Brill, 1999

Synopsis

Presents an overview of the ways in which Muslims over the centuries have determined the sacred direction towards Mecca (qibla) and then describes, in detail, two 17th-century brass Iranian maps discovered in 1989 and 1995. The author shows that the geographical data derives from a 15th-century Central Asian source and that the mathematics underlying the grid was developed in 9th-century Baghdad.

About this title

Review:

'"Science historian David King wrote a monumental book about [a] cartographical miracle."' Dirk van Delft, "NRC Handelsblad", 2000. '" impressive volume This is an important reference book full of suggestions for further studies."' Roser Puig, "ISIS", 2001. " King has written a fascinating, beautifully illustrated book that should be read by any person interested in Islamic science or the history of mathematical geography." Benno van Dalen, "Royal Asiatic Society", 2002.

About the Author:

David A. King, Ph.D. (1972) in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, Yale University, is Professor of the History of Science at the J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt. He has published extensively on medieval Islamic astronomy and astronomical instruments.

About this edition

• Publisher: Brill
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 9004113673
• ISBN 13: 9789004113671
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 638