PRE‐ISLAMIC EMPIRES

Toledo Iznik

Byzantine Empire Tabriz
Granada Marageh
Nishapur

Samarra Kashan
Baghdad

Sasanian Empire
 CONQUESTS
Formation of the Dar al‐Islam

634 AD
638 AD 636 AD

641 AD

MAP OF UMAYYAD TERRITORIES

COUNTER‐CALIPHATES
10th Century AD
Al-Idrisi’s Map of the World
Original dated 1154 AD
Date: 960H/ 1553 (this ms. Folio)

Gouache and ink on paper

Diameter 23cm

The Bodleian Library, University

of Oxford, Ms. Pococke 375, fols.
3b-4a.
Roger II of Sicily receiving the crown from 
Jesus Christ
Martorana Cathedral, Palermo, Sicily, 1143 AD
Glass mosaic (colour and gold)

Royal Mantle of Roger II of Sicily
1133‐34 AD (528 H)
Silk and Gold with gemstones
Al‐Idrisi’s World Map from the Book of Roger
Palermo, Sicily   1154 AD
Al-Idrisi’s World Map (1154)
Modern reproduction South on Top (as in original)
Al-Idrisi’s World Map (1154)
Modern reproduction Inverted with North on Top
 SOUTH

Africa

Ibn Hawqal’s
Kitab Surat al‐Ard
(Book of the Image of

WEST
the World)
EAST

1086 AD/470H

Asia

Europe
NORTH
• Clime-type map with
arched boundary lines
from Yaqut’s Kitab Mu’jam
al‐Buldan (Compendium of
Lands).
• Original text written in 13th
century.
•
• Date: 1424 AD (827H) of
this folio/ms
• Red and black ink on
paper.
• Diameter 10.5 cm.
• Topkapi Saray Museum,
Istanbul. Ahmet 2700,
fol 18a
 SOUTH

• Iranian Kishwar system as 
SECOND CLIME
represented in al‐Biruni’s Hijaz, Ethiopia,
Kitab Tahdid Nihayat al‐ Yemen, Arabia …

Al‐Talabiya
Amakin (Determination of  FIRST CLIME THIRD CLIME
the Coordinates of Places) India, Sind,
Al‐Zabaj …
Egypt as far as 
Morocco, Sudan ...
FOURTH CLIME

Kashmir

Byzantium
Land of 
Babylon, Iraq
WEST EAST

Gulf of 
Fars, Khurasan

Azerbayjan
SEVENTH CLIME FIFTH CLIME
China, Tibet, Byzantium,
Transoxiana Andalusia and
The Franks
SIXTH CLIME
Yajuj & Majuj,
Khazars, Turks,
Russia, Slavs ..

NORTH
 CLASS EXERCISE - 1
• With Mecca & Medina (the Hijaz) as your central reference, where are the following cities located and also 
determine Qibla direction. Also mention in which countries (modern) these cities are presently situated.
• Example: Basra is North‐east of the Hijaz. Qibla in Basra is South‐west. Basra is in Iraq.
• Jerusalem
• Damascus
• Cairo
• Baghdad
• Constantinople
• Cordoba
• Fez
• Kairouan
• Isfahan
• Herat
• Nishapur
• Shiraz
• Samarqand
• Multan
 HOME ASSIGNMENT 1
• You are setting out to perform the pilgrimage. By profession you are 
(choose one):
• a) Scholar b) Trader c) Craftsman

• Your residence is at 
• A) Toledo b) Samarqand c) Iznik d) Baghdad e) Fez

• What will be your route to Mecca (cities, terrain, language, 
transport)? Chart out your itinerary and justify why you are taking this 
route (it need not be the shortest one).