Abdul Karim Al-Jaziri

A visionary Moroccan astronomer and cartographer who created the first accurate maps of the Sahara and West Africa

Abdul Karim Al-Jaziri (1825–1898) was a self-taught scholar from Fez who revolutionized geographical knowledge of the African continent during the 19th century. Despite being born into poverty, he mastered celestial navigation and mathematics through studying at the Qarawiyin University. His 1867 publication Al-Mushtamil fi Ahwal al-Ard (The Comprehensive Treatise on Earth's Conditions) included the first scientifically accurate maps of the Sahara Desert and trans-Saharan trade routes, correcting centuries of European cartographic errors. He invented a portable astrolabe that enabled precise latitude measurements in desert environments, now displayed at the Museum of Maghreb in Casablanca. Al-Jaziri's work facilitated safer trans-Saharan trade, saving countless lives through accurate water source mapping. His later writings on sustainable land management influenced early conservation efforts in North Africa. Despite opposition from traditionalists who called his work 'heretical', his maps were eventually adopted by European explorers like Heinrich Barth. Modern geographers recognize him as the founder of African climatology studies. His memoir Nights Under the Stars remains an essential text in the history of science.