Q. Consider the following statements regarding Al-Masudi, a 10th-century Arab historian and geographer: - He is sometimes referred to as the ‘Herodotus of the Arabs’.
- His work Muruj adh-Dhahab (Meadows of Gold) combines elements of history and geography.
- He described the coastline of East Africa and Indian Ocean trade routes.
- He believed that the Earth was flat and stationary.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
Answer:
Only 1, 2 and 3
Notes: Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct: Al-Masudi was called the ‘Herodotus of the Arabs’, his Meadows of Gold blended history with geography, and he described East Africa's coastline and Indian Ocean trade. However, statement 4 is incorrect; Al-Masudi believed the Earth was spherical, not flat and stationary.