Al-Dimashqi (geographer)

Al-Dimashqi (1256-1327), also known as Shams al-Din Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Abi Talib al-Ansari al-Sufi al-Dimashqi, was a medieval Arab geographer. He is best known for his cosmography, Nukhbat al-dahr fi 'aja'ib al-barr wa'l-bahr (Selection from Time on the Wonders of the Land and Sea), often simply referred to as Nukhbat al-Dahr.

Nukhbat al-Dahr is a comprehensive geographical treatise covering the known world of the time. It incorporates information from a variety of sources, including earlier geographers, travelers' accounts, and folklore. The work is divided into sections dealing with different regions, describing their physical features, climate, resources, inhabitants, and customs. Al-Dimashqi frequently includes anecdotes and curious stories, adding an element of entertainment to his geographical descriptions.

While relying heavily on earlier authors like al-Biruni and al-Idrisi, Al-Dimashqi brought together a wide range of geographical knowledge and presented it in a relatively accessible format. His work provides valuable insights into the understanding of the world during the late medieval period in the Arab world. However, it is important to note that Nukhbat al-Dahr also contains numerous inaccuracies and relies on unverifiable reports, typical of geographical works of that era.

Al-Dimashqi's birth and death dates are approximate and based on available scholarship. He lived and worked primarily in Damascus, which explains the "al-Dimashqi" part of his name, meaning "from Damascus." His cosmography was influential for later geographers and continues to be studied by historians of science and geography today.