Muhammad al-Idrisi (1100 – 1165) born in Ceuta in Andalusian Spain was the Arab writer of a famous treatise on Geography that was loosely based on Ptolemy and updated through al-Idrisi’s time. This, together, with the accompanying map has been referred to as the Tabula Rogeriana – a world map and description made by al-Idrisi for the Norman King of Sicily – Roger II in the year 1154. The book, which was published in Paris in the year 1840, contains references to various Slavic countries in the description of the so-called “Sixth Clime.” The sections referring to Central and Eastern Europe are found in the third section, fourth section and fifth section. We may present them all at some point but for now we just present the description of Poland and Russia which is found at the end of the fourth section.
Sixth Clime
Section Four
“… From Akli to Stlifanos, a large city which used to be even more important before, [it is] one day’s [travel]. We shall hereafter give an indication of the roads leading from this city to the neighboring countries. As for Poland, a country of science and Greek [ar-Rum, i.e., Byzantine] wisemen, it is fertile, furrowed by streams, covered with towns and villages. The vine and the olive grow there as well as all species of trees and fruits. Its main cities are: Cracal, Djenazia, Anklaia, Serdawa, Neghrada and Chithow.* They are all beautiful, flourishing and celebrated, especially because there live there men versed in the knowledge of sciences and of the Greek [Byzantine] religion and by skillful and intelligent workmen. [As regards the city of] Cracal, Djenazia and the other towns we have just mentioned, they are filled with contiguous dwellings, possess very many resources and singularly resemble each other in their size and their appearance. The objects which are manufactured there are nearly all of the same nature. This county is separated from Saxony, Bohemia, and Russia by mountains which surround it on all sides.”
[* note: another reading has “Ikraku, Gnazna, Rtslaba, Srada, Ngrada, Stnu”]
Gniezno and Cracow shown in blue on the right (picture is upside down for ease of reading)
“The distances in Poland:”
“From Cracal to Masela, 130 miles
From Cracal to Djenazia, 80 miles
From Djenazia to Anclaia, 60 miles
From Anclaia to Zaca, 12 days
From Zaca to Bermowa, 180 miles
From Bermowa to Galisia, 200 miles”
“These last two countries belong to Russia”
Roger
“The principal rivers of Poland include Butent and Tessia [Tisza?]”
“They take their sources in the mountains which separate Poland from Russia, from north to south. They flow towards the west, then unite and form a single stream which flows into the Danube to the west of Kawor [Sremski Karlovci?].”
“As for Russia, it is a vast country where there are few towns and scattered dwellings, so that to go from one region to another, one must travel immense distances through uninhabited places. The Russians are in constant wars and disputes either among themselves or with their neighbors. Among the cities of Russia included in this section are Sermeli, Zana, Barmounia and Galisia. Among the cities of Russia included in this section are Sermeli, Zana, Barmunia and Galisia. The first of these cities [Sermeli] is situated on the Dniestr, in the northern part of the course of this river which flows towards the east to Zana, a 12 day distance. From Zana, a city on its [Dniestr’s] banks, to Barmouni, [it is a] 9 days’ [journey]. And from Barmuni to Galisia, 200 miles.”
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