AHMAD IBN MÃJID:

Who was he?

Ahmad ibn Majid also known as “prince of the sea” or “lion of the sea” was an
Arab navigator and cartographer. He was raised in a family famous for
seafaring. At the age of 17 he was able to navigate ships. Ibn Majid was the
author of nearly forty works of poetry and prose.

Quick facts:
● Born: 1432
● Died: 1500
● Occupation: Navigator and cartographer
● Notable Work: The book of the benefits of the principles and
foundations of seamanship

Legacy:
Remembered as “The Lion of the Sea '', Ibn Majid's true legacy was the
substantial body of literature on navigation that he left behind. Arab sailing
was at a high point during Ibn Majid's lifetime, when both Europeans and
Ottomans had only a limited understanding of geography in the Indian
Ocean. His book was widely utilized by Arab sailors and addressed celestial
navigation, weather patterns, and charts of dangerous areas in which to
sail. This tome(a book that is large and is mostly from scholars), in addition
to his poetic works, were the true legacy of the sailor. Two of ibn Majid's
famous hand-written books are now prominent exhibits in the Bibliothèque
nationale de France.