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Acquired by the Bodleian Library in 2002, the Book of Curiosities is now recognized as one of the most important discoveries in the history of cartography in recent decades. This eleventh-century Arabic treatise, composed in Egypt under the Fatimid caliphs, is a detailed account of the heavens and the Earth, illustrated by an unparalleled series of maps and astronomical diagrams. With topics ranging from comets to the island of Sicily, from lunar mansions to the sources of the Nile, it represents the extent of geographical, astronomical and astrological knowledge of the time. This authoritative edition and translation, accompanied by a colour facsimile reproduction, opens a unique window onto the worldview of medieval Islam.
An extensive glossary of star-names and seven indices, on birds, animals and other items have been added for easy reference.
An extensive glossary of star-names and seven indices, on birds, animals and other items have been added for easy reference.
Price: $355.00
Pages: 792
Publisher: Brill
Imprint: Brill
Series: Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Science. Texts and Studies
Publication Date:
25 October 2013
ISBN: 9789004255647
Format: Hardcover
"This carefully edited and translated medieval work is a must-have item in any collection of research materials on the history of cartography." - Cyrus Alai, in: IMCoS Journal (International Map Collectors' Society) 139 (2014), 59-60
"...an epic piece of scholarship that will enable western scholars to reassess their understanding of medieval Islamic cosmology and mapmaking and its relation to the Christian tradition." - Jerry Brotton, in: History Today 64.3 (2014), p. 59
“… a major contribution to our knowledge of eleventh-century Egyptian cosmology, astronomy, astrology, geography and related subjects. […] … an invaluable reference work and a solid basis for the future research to which it points.” - Petra G. Schmidl, in: Imago Mundi 67.2 (2015), 255-256 [doi: 10.1080/03085694.2015.1027586]
“The discovery, editing and translation of the Book of Curiosities opens numerous windows for scholars and researchers working in the fields of cartography, the history of Arabic thought, and travel narratives. The manuscript offers an insight into the Muslim cosmographic medieval worldview. Its comprehensive content and illustrative maps are no less fascinating than the Arabian Nights. Further close study of the manuscript will enrich our knowledge of many disciplines, such as astrology, astronomy, the Fatimid caliphate in Egypt, the mirabilia tradition, and maritime travel in the medieval Islamic world, to mention but a few.” - Sally Abed, in: al-Masāq. Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean 27.3 (2015), 277-278 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09503110.2015.1100811]
“…an exceptionally beautiful book […] …an outstanding work of scholarship […].” - Oliver Leaman, in: Philosophy East and West 65.3 (2015), 971-972 [DOI: 10.1353/pew.2015.0067]
"Brill’s unshakeable commitment to the highest standards of academic publishing has combined with the erudite scholarship of two first-rank researchers in order to produce one of the finest contributions to the field of Islamicate studies of the last years. Behind this gorgeous volume there lies over a decade of hard work since the acquisition of the manuscript of the Book of Curiosities (MS Arab c.90) by the Bodleian Library in 2002.. A hitherto unexplored Arabic text of respectable age.., a sheer amount of scholarly information carefully selected and presented in the most profitable way for researchers, and a highly reader-friendly and enticing format—these are some of the assets that make of this book a great contribution to Mediaeval Arabic studies and a model to follow on more than one account." - Theo Loinaz, in: Suhayl, volume 14 (2015), 196 -198
"It is one of the most meticulously researched, well-prepared, and – frankly – beautiful books that I have encountered in years. With its picturesque diagrams, careful illustrations, and coloured facsimiles of various manuscripts, it is truly a marvel for the eyes. Given its size, it boasts both quality and quantity – a rare feat in today’s world in light of the pressure to churn out publications.” - Mohammad Mesbahi, in: Journal of Shi‘a Islamic Studies, Winter 2016, Vol. IX, No. 1
"...we should applaud the efforts of the editors/translators in making this interesting, idiosyncratic work accessible to scholars and other interested readers." - F. Jamil Ragep, in: Journal for the History of Astronomy, 2016
"Der Wert dieser Publikation und das Verdienst der Verfasser liegt darin, ein zwar kurzes, aber bisher nicht bekanntes arabisches kosmographisches Werk durch Faksimile-Ausgabe, Text-Edition und Übersetzung mit einer Vielzahl von Kommentaren (in den Anmerkungen zur Übersetzung) vorzüglich aufbereitet zu haben. Die Verfasser haben eine mustergültige Edition und Übersetzung vorgelegt und eine detaillierte Ausarbeitung und Aufbereitung durchgeführt, die alle erdenklichen Aspekte berücksichtigt. Diese Publikation muss und wird nicht nur die Standard-Ausgabe zum anonymen [Werk] aus dem 11. Jahrhundert bleiben, ihr kommt auch eine Vorbildwirkung für die Bearbeitung vergleichbarer arabischer Handschriften zu." - Herbert Eisenstein, in: Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes, vol. 106/2016
"...an epic piece of scholarship that will enable western scholars to reassess their understanding of medieval Islamic cosmology and mapmaking and its relation to the Christian tradition." - Jerry Brotton, in: History Today 64.3 (2014), p. 59
“… a major contribution to our knowledge of eleventh-century Egyptian cosmology, astronomy, astrology, geography and related subjects. […] … an invaluable reference work and a solid basis for the future research to which it points.” - Petra G. Schmidl, in: Imago Mundi 67.2 (2015), 255-256 [doi: 10.1080/03085694.2015.1027586]
“The discovery, editing and translation of the Book of Curiosities opens numerous windows for scholars and researchers working in the fields of cartography, the history of Arabic thought, and travel narratives. The manuscript offers an insight into the Muslim cosmographic medieval worldview. Its comprehensive content and illustrative maps are no less fascinating than the Arabian Nights. Further close study of the manuscript will enrich our knowledge of many disciplines, such as astrology, astronomy, the Fatimid caliphate in Egypt, the mirabilia tradition, and maritime travel in the medieval Islamic world, to mention but a few.” - Sally Abed, in: al-Masāq. Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean 27.3 (2015), 277-278 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09503110.2015.1100811]
“…an exceptionally beautiful book […] …an outstanding work of scholarship […].” - Oliver Leaman, in: Philosophy East and West 65.3 (2015), 971-972 [DOI: 10.1353/pew.2015.0067]
"Brill’s unshakeable commitment to the highest standards of academic publishing has combined with the erudite scholarship of two first-rank researchers in order to produce one of the finest contributions to the field of Islamicate studies of the last years. Behind this gorgeous volume there lies over a decade of hard work since the acquisition of the manuscript of the Book of Curiosities (MS Arab c.90) by the Bodleian Library in 2002.. A hitherto unexplored Arabic text of respectable age.., a sheer amount of scholarly information carefully selected and presented in the most profitable way for researchers, and a highly reader-friendly and enticing format—these are some of the assets that make of this book a great contribution to Mediaeval Arabic studies and a model to follow on more than one account." - Theo Loinaz, in: Suhayl, volume 14 (2015), 196 -198
"It is one of the most meticulously researched, well-prepared, and – frankly – beautiful books that I have encountered in years. With its picturesque diagrams, careful illustrations, and coloured facsimiles of various manuscripts, it is truly a marvel for the eyes. Given its size, it boasts both quality and quantity – a rare feat in today’s world in light of the pressure to churn out publications.” - Mohammad Mesbahi, in: Journal of Shi‘a Islamic Studies, Winter 2016, Vol. IX, No. 1
"...we should applaud the efforts of the editors/translators in making this interesting, idiosyncratic work accessible to scholars and other interested readers." - F. Jamil Ragep, in: Journal for the History of Astronomy, 2016
"Der Wert dieser Publikation und das Verdienst der Verfasser liegt darin, ein zwar kurzes, aber bisher nicht bekanntes arabisches kosmographisches Werk durch Faksimile-Ausgabe, Text-Edition und Übersetzung mit einer Vielzahl von Kommentaren (in den Anmerkungen zur Übersetzung) vorzüglich aufbereitet zu haben. Die Verfasser haben eine mustergültige Edition und Übersetzung vorgelegt und eine detaillierte Ausarbeitung und Aufbereitung durchgeführt, die alle erdenklichen Aspekte berücksichtigt. Diese Publikation muss und wird nicht nur die Standard-Ausgabe zum anonymen [Werk] aus dem 11. Jahrhundert bleiben, ihr kommt auch eine Vorbildwirkung für die Bearbeitung vergleichbarer arabischer Handschriften zu." - Herbert Eisenstein, in: Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes, vol. 106/2016
Emilie Savage-Smith, FBA, Ph.D. (1969), is Professor of the History of Islamic Science, University of Oxford. Recent publications include A New Catalogue of Arabic Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. Volume I: Medicine (Oxford University Press, 2012).
Yossef Rapoport, Ph.D. (2002), is Senior Lecturer in History, Queen Mary University of London. He has published widely on medieval Islam, including Marriage, Money and Divorce in Medieval Islamic Society (Cambridge, 2005).
Yossef Rapoport, Ph.D. (2002), is Senior Lecturer in History, Queen Mary University of London. He has published widely on medieval Islam, including Marriage, Money and Divorce in Medieval Islamic Society (Cambridge, 2005).