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The Dictionary of Countries by Yaqut – 13th Century
by Meam Wye
‘Kitab mu'jam al-Buldan’ (The Dictionary of Countries) was a big geographical encyclopedia, with several thousand entries, written in 13th century by Yaqut al-Hamawi al-Rumi al-Baghdadi (1179-1229).
Mujam-al-Buldan contains the geographical names in alphabetical order. The listing includes the names of various countries, towns, mountains, rivers, seas, valleys, monuments and grave sites. For each entry, wherever applicable, Yaqut provides the various variants of the name, etymology, precise pronunciation (for Baghdad, as an example, the book provides seven different pronunciations), spelling, longitude and latitude, population, renowned scholars, mention of the place in Quran and Hadith, history, and customs. The book not only provides relevant geographical information, but is a great resource of history and literature as well. It contains numerous anecdotes and over 5000 poetic quotations. According to George Satron , in the 'Introduction to the History of Science’:
“The Mujam al Buldan is one of the most important works of Arabic literature. It is a store house of information not simply on geography, but also on history, ethnography and natural history. It is preceded by an introduction dealing with mathematical, physical and political geography, the size of the earth, seven climates, etc.”
Yaqut decided to write this geographical encyclopedia after he attended a gathering of Imam al-Samani where people disagreed on the correct pronounciation of an Arabic place mentioned in a Hadeeth. He traveled widely studying the customs and geography of various places including Merv, Mosul, Aleppo, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq.
The introduction of Al-Buldan is very insightful where yaqut discusses the importance of geography for poets, rulers, physicians, Hadith scholars and administrators . He also explains the geographical, astronomical and economical terminology and discusses the shape of the earth (spherical).
Al-Buldan quotes and provides references of the works of prior historians and geographers as well. A very important reference is that of the 10th century Geographer Al-hasan bin Mohammad Al-Misri Al-Muhallabi who had written a geographical book ‘Kitab Al-Aziz’ that is now entirely lost and is known only through the works of Al-Hamawi besides that of Al-Fida.
A few lines from one of the entries of Mujam-al-Buldan:
“Al-Tibr: One of the countries of Sudan known as Bilad al-Tibr. Pure gold is ascribed to it. It is situated south of the Maghrib. Merchants travel from Sijilmasa to a town on the frontiers of the Sudan, called Ghana. Their wares are salt, bundles of pine wood (this is one of the kinds of woods from which tar is made, but its smell is not unpleasant, being more aromatic than rank, blue glass beads, bracelets of copper, bangles and signet rings of copper, and nothing else. All this is carried by numerous camels in heavy loads ……….”
Mujam-al-Buldan was translated and published in 6 volumes in Leipzig (Germany) between 1666- 1873 by the German Historian, Ferdinand Wustenfeld .
Yaqut also wrote another encyclopedia ‘Mu'jam al-udaba' , (The Dictionary of Learned Men) in 1226. The length of both these encyclopedia, combined, is 33,180 pages!
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May 30, 2010 7:31 AM
sounds like a fascinating book! I have been doing a little further research on it since you introduced it here.
May 30, 2010 4:16 PM
One of my favorite subjects in high school was geography. I found it fascinating, and still do nearly 60 years later. This is a fascinating peek into the history of geography. Thank you for it, and keep researching and writing.
Cordially,
George Polley
Sapporo, Japan
May 30, 2010 11:14 PM
We spend way too little time learning about other cultures, countries (and the geography) around our globe.
I also love geography and since in the past I taught history (as well as English) I found knowing the geography of a given place gave my students a real feel for so much that could be found in a culture.
June 1, 2010 8:59 PM
Interesting post. Imagine writing over 33,000 pages in one's lifetime!
June 2, 2010 11:57 AM
It was certainly a great achievement of Yaqut.
Thanks you Meam.
Ibn Hanif
June 4, 2010 10:27 AM
33,000 pages, something of an author! It sounds a fascinating book. What langauge was it written in?
June 4, 2010 11:05 PM
@LondonGirl: It is indeed amazing :) The book was in Arabic.
June 8, 2010 4:25 PM
Wow! I had no idea this book existed. I am impressed with the amount of detail and the devotion he must have had to this project.
I find it interesting that he would include grave sites. It just doesn't seem like our current society (in North America) focuses on the dead anymore. Yet when I read things like this or look at the details surrounding First Nation communities it seems that death has always played a major role in societal life throughout history. Maybe I am just missing something here but I thought that was interesting. Anyway, I am done rambling for now...
June 9, 2010 7:56 AM
@Nathan: Your observation is quite interesting and intelligent; didn't occur to me :)
June 19, 2010 2:17 PM
Has it ever been translated into English? I'd love to read the poetic quotations.
June 21, 2010 4:40 AM
@nothingprofound: Yaqut's book has been 'partially' translated into English as 'The Introductory Chapters of Yaqut's 'Mu'jam al-buldan' by Wadie Jwaideh.(1959).
September 2, 2010 1:34 AM
Meam, a book with 33,000+ pages in the 13th century by Yaqut Al-Hamawi on a scientific topic simply tell us about another shining history of Muslims and thier contribution for the human development.
- p.s. Ramadan Mubarak for you since I place this comment nearly at the end of it.
September 24, 2010 11:17 AM
Is there a more recent complete translation in German or French? I've been trying to find a copy for dissertation research and interlibrary loan hasn't been terribly helpful. I should be receiving the intro...that you noted above shortly.
September 26, 2010 4:10 AM
I'm not aware of any recent complete translations. best wishes for your dissertation :)
September 28, 2010 3:53 PM
Look for how Yaqut kept on establishing foundations for knowledge so that people get benifit from his work. Awesome effort that need today a team work with database to make an encyclopedia!
January 21, 2011 10:33 AM
Assalamu alaikum Meam, You have not updated your blog for the last seven months.
Are you o.k ?