Natural Geography of Al-Istakhri

Abstract

The present study aims at analyzing Al-Istakhri's book Masalic Al-Mamalic which he wrote in the first part of the fourth century for Hijrah. The research is limited to studying natural geography according to the modern scientific concepts. The result of the study is that Al-Istakhri used clear geographical description. He paid great attention to the nature of the surface of the earth and the climate and their effect on human beings' activities. He also gave some explanations to ebb and tide. He also gave explanations to the existence of the marshes in Basra.