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Book/Printed Material The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems.

About this Item

Title

  • The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems.

Summary

  • Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Mas'udi (circa 896--956 AD, 283--345 AH) was an Arab historian and geographer, known as the "Herodotus of the Arabs." He was one of the first scholars to combine history and scientific geography in a large-scale work. Muruj adh-dhahab wa ma'adin al-jawhar (The meadows of gold and mines of gems) is a book of world history that combines rewritten versions of two of al-Masudi's earlier works. The first half of the book is of enormous value, although somewhat sprawling and confused in its design. It starts with the creation of the world and Jewish history. Next follow chapters describing the history, geography, social life, and religious customs of non-Islamic lands, such as India, Greece, and Rome. The work continues with accounts of the oceans, the calendars of various nations, climate, the solar system, and great temples. Unusual and interesting sections are devoted to pearl diving in the Persian Gulf, amber found in East Africa, Hindu burial customs, the land route to China, and navigation, with its various hazards, such as storms and waterspouts. The relative positions and characteristics of the seas are also explained.

Names

  • Masʻūdī, died 956? Author.

Created / Published

  • Cairo : Gorgeous Egyptian Press, 1927.

Headings

  • -  896 to 956
  • -  Geography, Medieval

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 2 volumes, 22 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
  • -  Content in Arabic.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Arabic and Islamic Science and Its Influence on the Western Scientific Tradition: Historical and Political Background

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021666164

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

MasʻŪdī, Died 956? Author. The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems. Cairo: Gorgeous Egyptian Press, 1927. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666164/.

APA citation style:

Masʻūdī, D. 9. A. (1927) The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems. Cairo: Gorgeous Egyptian Press. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666164/.

MLA citation style:

MasʻŪdī, Died 956? Author. The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems. Cairo: Gorgeous Egyptian Press, 1927. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021666164/>.