World-maps for finding the direction and distance to Mecca
Subtitle: innovation and tradition in Islamic science
By: by David A. King.
Series: Islamic philosophy, theology, and science,; v. 36
Publisher: Brill
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Leiden, The Netherlands; Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 638
Subjects: Cartography -- Iran -- History -- 17th century.; Mathematical geography -- History -- 17th century.; Science -- Islamic Empire -- History.; Qiblah.
Description: "Two remarkable Islamic world-maps were discovered in 1989 and 1995. Both are made of brass and date from 17th-century Iran. Mecca is at the centre and a highly sophisticated longitude and latitude grid enables the user to determine the direction and distance to Mecca for anywhere in the world between Andalusia and China. Prior to the discovery of these maps it was thought that such cartographic grids were conceived in Europe ca. 1910. This richly-illustrated book presents an overview of the ways in which Muslims over the centuries have determined the sacred direction towards Mecca (qibla) and then describes the two world-maps in detail."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [373]-410) and indexes.