Rabat, May 29 -- King Roger II invited Charif al-Idrisi to his kingdom and gave him a high ranking in the kingdom's scientific circles. He also named Charif al-Idrisi as head of a group of scientists, scholars, historians, and geographers to establish a world map with new scientific specifications, benefiting from the experience of seasoned travelers and the knowledge of traders, sailors, and explorers.

The Moroccan geographer's scientific and cognitive input, which span over 15 years of work, investigation, and scrutiny, key to the development of the world map which was engraved on a large silver plate and in a book called "Nuzhat al-Mushtaq Fi Khtirak Al Afaq." (The Excursion of the One Who Yearns to Penetrate the Horizons - Library of...