World-maps for finding the direction and distance to Mecca : innovation and tradition in Islamic science
"The author describes how Muslims over the centuries have determined the sacred direction ("qibla") towards Mecca and presents two highly sophisticated Mecca-centred world-maps for finding the "qibla," These recently-discovered world-maps have forced a reevaluation of Muslim achievements in mathematics and cartography."
History
xxviii, 638 pages : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 30 cm.
9789004113671, 9004113673
41431694
Aspects of Islamic science
The determination of the sacred direction in Islam
The main sources of Safavid mathematical geography
The instruments on which the maps are engraved
The geographical data on the maps
The cartographic grids
The makers of the Safavid instruments
Traces of European influence on the instruments
Further reflections on Mecca-centered world-maps
Text in English with passages in Arabic and French