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 a geographer of the Muslim West.[1]
Abū ʿUbayd ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad ibn Ayyūb ibn ʿAmr al-Bakrī
Al-Bakri was born in Huelva, the son of the sovereign of a short-lived principality there.[2] His family established this self-governed area in Huelva when the Caliphate of Cordoba fell in 1031.[3] Al-Bakri belonged to the Arab tribe of Bakr.[4] When his father was deposed by al-Mu'tadid (1042–1069) of the ruler of Taifa of Seville, he then moved to Córdoba, where he studied with the geographer al-Udri and the historian Ibn Hayyan. He spent his entire life in Al-Andalus, most of it in Seville and Almeria. While in Seville, he was there when El Cid arrived to collect tributes from Alfonso VI.[3] He died in Córdoba without ever having travelled to the locations of which he wrote.[5]
Worksedit
Al-Bakri wrote about Europe, North Africa, and the Arabian peninsula. Only two of his works have survived. His Mu'jam mā ista'jam contains a list of place names mostly within the Arabian peninsula with an introduction giving the geographical background. His most important work is his Kitāb al-Masālik wa-al-Mamālik ("Book of Highways and of Kingdoms") (كتاب المساليك والمماليك). This was composed in 1068, based on literature and the reports of merchants and travellers, including Muhammad ibn Yūsuf al-Warrāq (904–973) and Abraham ben Jacob.[5][6] It is one of the most important sources for the history of West Africa and gives crucial information on the Ghana Empire, the Almoravid dynasty and the trans-Saharan trade.[6] Although the material borrowed from al-Warraq dated from the 10th century, he also included information on events that occurred close to the time that he wrote.[6]
Al-Bakri mentions the earliest urban centres in the trans-Saharan trade to embrace Islam, late in the 10th century, Gao was one of the very few along the Niger River to have native Muslim inhabitants. Other centres along the serpentine bends of the great river eventually followed: Takrur (Mauritania, Senegal); Songhay (Mali); Kanem-Bornu (Chad); and Hausa territories (Nigeria). By the 11th century, reports on these and other flourishing Islamic cities made their way north to Al-Andalus in southern Iberia, enabling 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 on a plain" and that "One of these towns, which is inhabited by Muslims, is large and possesses twelve mosques in one of which they assemble for the Friday prayer. There are salaried imams and muezzins, as well as jurists and scholars."[7]
His works are noted for the relative objectivity with which they present information. For each area, he describes the people, their customs, as well as the geography, climate and main cities. Similar information was also contained in his written geography of the Arabian Peninsula, and in the encyclopedia of the world in which he wrote. He also presented various anecdotes about each area. Unfortunately, parts of his main work have been lost, and of the surviving parts, some have never been published.[6]
^ ab"Al-Bakrī, Ab | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
^Hermes, N. (2012). The [European] Other in Medieval Arabic Literature and Culture: Ninth-Twelfth Century AD. Springer. "Judged as the greatest geographer of al-Andalus, polyvalent scholar Abu ʿUbayd ʿAbd Allah al-Bakri belonged to the powerful Arab tribe of Bakr ibn Wail"
^. Archived from the original on 2014-11-30. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
^"Al-Bakri". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
Referencesedit
Lévi-Provençal, E. (1960), "Abū ʿUbayd al-Bakrī", Encyclopaedia of Islam 2nd Ed. Vol. 1, Leiden: Brill, pp. 155–157.
Levtzion, Nehemia; Hopkins, John F.P., eds. (2000) [1981], Corpus of Early Arabic Sources for West Africa, New York, NY: Marcus Weiner Press, ISBN1-55876-241-8. Pages 62–87 contain an extract from "The Book of Routes and 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 Scientific Biography Vol. 1, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, pp. 413–414.
El-Bekri (1859). Description de l'Afrique septentrionale. Mac Guckin de Slane, translator and editor. Paris: Imprimerie Impériale. Revised edition with corrections (1913), Tangiers: Adolphe Jourdan. Available from Gallica.
Reinaud, J.T. (1860). "Notice sur les dictionnaries géographiques arabes". Journal Asiatique. 5. 16: 65–106. Al-Bakri's dictionary is mentioned on page 75.
White, Robert C. (1968). "Early geographical dictionaries". Geographical Review. 58 (4): 652–659. doi:10.2307/212687. JSTOR 212687.
"The Culture of Al-Andalus: Geography". Unity Productions Foundation.
January 01, 1970
bakri, lunar, crater, crater, medieval, biographer, muhammad, abū, Ḥasan, bakrī, abū, ʿubayd, ʿabd, allāh, ʿabd, ʿazīz, muḥammad, ayyūb, ʿamr, bakrī, arabic, أبو, عبيد, عبد, الله, بن, عبد, العزيز, بن, محمد, بن, أيوب, بن, عمرو, البكري, simply, bakrī, 1040, 1094. For the lunar crater see Al Bakri crater For the medieval biographer of Muhammad see Abu al Ḥasan Bakri Abu ʿUbayd ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbd al ʿAziz ibn Muḥammad ibn Ayyub ibn ʿAmr al Bakri Arabic أبو عبيد عبد الله بن عبد العزيز بن محمد بن أيوب بن عمرو البكري or simply al Bakri c 1040 1094 was an Arab Andalusian historian and a geographer of the Muslim West 1 Abu ʿUbayd ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbd al ʿAziz ibn Muḥammad ibn Ayyub ibn ʿAmr al BakriPersonalBorn1040HuelvaDied1094CordobaReligionIslamEraCaliphate of CordobaRegionAl AndalusMain interest s Islamic history geography Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksLife editAl Bakri was born in Huelva the son of the sovereign of a short lived principality there 2 His family established this self governed area in Huelva when the Caliphate of Cordoba fell in 1031 3 Al Bakri belonged to the Arab tribe of Bakr 4 When his father was deposed by al Mu tadid 1042 1069 of the ruler of Taifa of Seville he then moved to Cordoba where he studied with the geographer al Udri and the historian Ibn Hayyan He spent his entire life in Al Andalus most of it in Seville and Almeria While in Seville he was there when El Cid arrived to collect tributes from Alfonso VI 3 He died in Cordoba without ever having travelled to the locations of which he wrote 5 Works editAl Bakri wrote about Europe North Africa and the Arabian peninsula Only two of his works have survived His Mu jam ma ista jam contains a list of place names mostly within the Arabian peninsula with an introduction giving the geographical background His most important work is his Kitab al Masalik wa al Mamalik Book of Highways and of Kingdoms كتاب المساليك والمماليك This was composed in 1068 based on literature and the reports of merchants and travellers including Muhammad ibn Yusuf al Warraq 904 973 and Abraham ben Jacob 5 6 It is one of the most important sources for the history of West Africa and gives crucial information on the Ghana Empire the Almoravid dynasty and the trans Saharan trade 6 Although the material borrowed from al Warraq dated from the 10th century he also included information on events that occurred close to the time that he wrote 6 Al Bakri mentions the earliest urban centres in the trans Saharan trade to embrace Islam late in the 10th century Gao was one of the very few along the Niger River to have native Muslim inhabitants Other centres along the serpentine bends of the great river eventually followed Takrur Mauritania Senegal Songhay Mali Kanem Bornu Chad and Hausa territories Nigeria By the 11th century reports on these and other flourishing Islamic cities made their way north to Al Andalus in southern Iberia enabling 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 on a plain and that One of these towns which is inhabited by Muslims is large and possesses twelve mosques in one of which they assemble for the Friday prayer There are salaried imams and muezzins as well as jurists and scholars 7 His works are noted for the relative objectivity with which they present information For each area he describes the people their customs as well as the geography climate and main cities Similar information was also contained in his written geography of the Arabian Peninsula and in the encyclopedia of the world in which he wrote He also presented various anecdotes about each area Unfortunately parts of his main work have been lost and of the surviving parts some have never been published 6 Legacy editThe crater Al Bakri on the Moon is named after him 8 See also editMuhammad al Idrisi a 12th century Moroccan geographer who lived in SicilyNotes edit Levi Provencal E 24 April 2012 Abu ʿUbayd al Bakri Levi Provencal 1960 p 155 a b Al Bakri Ab Encyclopedia com www encyclopedia com Retrieved 2022 07 11 Hermes N 2012 The European Other in Medieval Arabic Literature and Culture Ninth Twelfth Century AD Springer Judged as the greatest geographer of al Andalus polyvalent scholar Abu ʿUbayd ʿAbd Allah al Bakri belonged to the powerful Arab tribe of Bakr ibn Wail a b Vernet 1970 a b c d Levtzion amp Hopkins 2000 pp 62 63 Saudi Aramco World From Africa in Ajami Archived from the original on 2014 11 30 Retrieved 2011 09 23 Al Bakri Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature USGS Astrogeology Research Program References editLevi Provencal E 1960 Abu ʿUbayd al Bakri Encyclopaedia of Islam 2nd Ed Vol 1 Leiden Brill pp 155 157 Levtzion Nehemia Hopkins John F P eds 2000 1981 Corpus of Early Arabic Sources for West Africa New York NY Marcus Weiner Press ISBN 1 55876 241 8 Pages 62 87 contain an extract from The Book of Routes and Realms describing West Africa Vernet J 1970 Bakri Abu ʿUbayd ʿAbdallah Ibn ʿAbd al ʿAziz Ibn Muḥammad al in Gillispie Charles C ed Dictionary of Scientific Biography Vol 1 New York Charles Scribner s Sons pp 413 414 Further reading edit nbsp Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Bakri El Bekri 1859 Description de l Afrique septentrionale Mac Guckin de Slane translator and editor Paris Imprimerie Imperiale Revised edition with corrections 1913 Tangiers Adolphe Jourdan Available from Gallica Reinaud J T 1860 Notice sur les dictionnaries geographiques arabes Journal Asiatique 5 16 65 106 Al Bakri s dictionary is mentioned on page 75 White Robert C 1968 Early geographical dictionaries Geographical Review 58 4 652 659 doi 10 2307 212687 JSTOR 212687 External links editVernet J 2008 1970 80 Al Bakri Abu ʿUbayd ʿAbdallah Ibn ʿAbd Al ʿAziz Ibn Muḥammad Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography Encyclopedia com The Culture of Al Andalus Geography Unity Productions Foundation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Bakri amp oldid 1212483285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
