Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Science. Texts and Studies, World-Maps for Finding the Direction and Distance to Mecca: Innovation and Tradition in ... Innovation and Tradition in Islamic Science [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

'"Science historian David King wrote a monumental book about [a] cartographical miracle.'
Dirk van Delft, "NRC Handelsblad, 2000.
'"impressive volumeThis is an important reference book full of suggestions for further studies.'
Roser Puig, "ISIS, 2001.
'"King has written a fascinating, beautifully illustrated book that should be read by any person interested in Islamic science or the history of mathematical geography.'
Benno van Dalen, "Royal Asiatic Society, 2002.

Presents an overview of the ways in which Muslims over the centuries have determined the sacred direction towards Mecca (qibla) and then describes, in detail, two 17th-century brass Iranian maps discovered in 1989 and 1995. The author shows that the geographical data derives from a 15th-century Central Asian source and that the mathematics underlying the grid was developed in 9th-century Baghdad.

Presents an overview of the ways in which Muslims over the centuries have determined the sacred direction towards Mecca (qibla) and then describes, in detail, two 17th-century brass Iranian maps discovered in 1989 and 1995. The author shows that the geographical data derives from a 15th-century Central Asian source and that the mathematics underlying the grid was developed in 9th-century Baghdad.