English abstract
This study intends to trace Al-Idrisi’s description of the Arabian Peninsula during the Islamic era by studying the scientific material provided by this geographer in his book called, “Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtraq al-Afaq "relying on the news that he acquired.
The importance of the study is evident in clarifying the cultural information enclosed in geography books via analyzing the section describing the Arabian Peninsula in the book, “Nuzhat al-Mushtaq “ as well as identifying the geographical and cultural aspects of the Arabian Peninsula. The researcher adopted the descriptive analytical approach along with the comparative approach inducing the parts related to the Arabian Peninsula.
The study is divided into: an introduction, a preface, three chapters and a conclusion. The preface provides an overview of the Arab geographical literature and its development. Chapter one offers information about the author, Al-Idrisi as a geographer and the methodology of his book, “Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtraq al-Afaq.” Chapter two discusses the natural geography of the Arabian Peninsula by studying its topography, climate, water resources and its agricultural wealth. Chapter three focuses on human geography and the various aspects it included which contributed in shaping the society of the Arabian Peninsula and its activities.
