Al-Yaman and the Hadramawt: Translations from medieval Arabic geographers and analysis.

Abstract

This dissertation is the result of an interest in the description of al-Yaman and the Hadramawt found in medieval Arabic texts. These texts have never been translated into English to any important degree, and this research represents therefore a pioneer effort. The dissertation begins with an overview, a summary of how medieval Arabic geography began and developed through the influences of Greek, Indian, and Iranian thought to the classical period of Arabic geography and subsequently declined into an age of compilation. This is followed up by a section on the life and works of each author, how the work here translated fits into his career, and how each work relates to the knowledge and information available to that author in his contemporary learned society. The main part of the dissertation deals with the translations themselves. Selections of the important texts are presented to reveal the context of the major geographical themes described. The last major section focuses upon the major themes in the translations. The significance of what information emerges from the texts is analyzed and those elements appearing in each author's work that give it unique importance are discussed.