al-Yaʿqubi

Abu l-Abbas Ahmad bin Abi Ya'qub bin Ja'far bin Wahb bin Wadiḥ al-Ya'qubi (died 897/8), commonly referred to simply by his nisba al-Yaʿqubi, was an Arab Muslim historian and geographer.

Life Ya'qubi was born in Baghdad Until 873, he lived in Armenia and Khorasan, working under the patronage of the Tahirid Governors; then he traveled to India, Egypt and the Maghreb. In 872, he listed the kingdoms of Bilād as-Sūdān, including Ghana, Gao, and Kanem.

His methodical approach to writing history includes personal observations and interviews to close relations on topics that Yaqubi could not encounter first-hand. He covered topics of natural, human and economic geography as well as noting down cultural, historical and topographic information. are found throughout his works. According to Sean Anthony, a careful reading of al-Ya'qubi's works easily discern his Rāfiḍī Shi'ite faith.

He died in Egypt on AH 284 (897/8).

Works Ta'rikh ibn Wadih (Chronicle of Ibn Wadih) Kitab al-Buldan (Book of the Countries) - biology, contains a description of the Maghreb, with a full account of the larger cities and much topographical and political information (ed. M. de Goeje, Leiden, 1892).

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