GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE OF AL-FARGHANI
Abstract
"The article analyzes the geographical knowledge included in the scientific heritage of Akhmed al-Farghani (798–865). It is known that Central Asian scientists, including al-Farghani, played a significant role in the development of geographical science. Because his scientific heritage covered not only theoretical but also practical issues of geography. Al-Farghani participated in the expedition group appointed by Caliph Mamun to measure one degree of the earth's meridian (the size of the Earth). The results obtained from the research were very necessary for creating an idea of the size of the Earth, for creating geographical maps, for determining the distances between countries and cities, for the development of trade relations. Al-Farghani's scientific heritage also includes such issues as determining the geographical coordinates of places, drawing maps and dividing cities and countries into seven climatic zones. The fact that al-Farghani built a structure (nilometer) to determine the water level of the Nile and its seasonal changes shows the practical significance of the scientist's scientific heritage. These aspects were also discussed in the article."