Maps, Our Place in the World: Muhammad al-Idrisi's world map

The video explores the work of Muhammad Al Idrisi, a 12th-century Islamic cartographer, who created the Book of Roger for the Norman King Roger II of Sicily. This work, featuring 70 sectional maps, highlights the fusion of Greek, Latin, and Arabic traditions. The maps are oriented with the South at the top, reflecting Islamic traditions. The video discusses the political and cultural implications of map-making, emphasizing how maps reflect the subjective worldviews of their creators. It also touches on the ambitions of Roger II and the use of maps in statecraft.

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