Abu Abdullah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani as-Sabti was born in Ceuta, North Africa back in 1100. The family spent much of their life travelling through North Africa. The only schooling I could find was when he was 16 he studied in Cordoba. He also visited parts of Europe including Portugal, France and Hungary.
He joined Abu al-Salt in Sicily, with his vast knowledge, he drew some maps from his memory of the many places he had visited. He told Abu al-Salt about the Chinese junks carrying leather, swords, iron and silk. He was one of the first Arabs to write about the Silla Dynasty of Korea. The Tabula Rogeriana was drawn by him for the Norman King Roger II of Sicily. In his time, they were the best rendition of the current world known to anyone. He died in 1160.
What you may not know about Abu is that his maps were used by two people you may have heard of Christopher Columbus and Vasco Da Gama.
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