Ibn al-'Awwam

Ibn al-Awwam ( Arabic ابن العوام, DMG Ibn alʿAwwām ), also Abu Zakariya ibn al-Awwam ( Arabic أبو زكريا يحيى بن محمد أحمد بن العوام, DMG Abū Zakariyyā Yaḥyā b. Muḥammad Aḥmad b. al-ʿAwwām ; 2nd half of the 12th century) was an Arab Muslim and Andalusian ( al-Andalus ) agronomist who, through his extensive documentation on agriculture , farming , plant breeding as well as for livestock farming , animal husbandry, pasture and stable economy, Kitaab al-Filāḥa (Treatise on agriculture), which has been completely preserved over the centuries, and is now widely recognized around the world. The translations into Spanish and French in the 19th century each comprise around 1350 pages.

Life

Practically everything that is known about Ibn al-Awwam's life is based on the conclusions that can be found in his book. He was certainly a large landowner who lived in the Seville area in the second half of the 12th century and made it his goal to give agriculture a scientific and practical foundation.

The reference book

In the 34 chapters of the book he summarized the entire knowledge of the Byzantine Empire and ancient Europe of the time on the topics of agriculture and used all knowledge and experiences of cultures on this topic. Is worth mentioning is the Greek group of Geoponica of which particular Cassian Bassus was an important representative. The Arabic and primarily the Nabataean sources are equally important , of which Ibn Wahschiyya is probably the most prominent representative. In addition, al-Awwam also integrated the writings of Ibn Bassal , Abu al-Chair al-Ishbili or Ibn Hajjaj from his own Andalusian homeland from the 11th century, which are only available today in fragments.

The book is characterized by its systematic structure, in that each chapter focuses on a special agronomic sub-area and thus meets all the requirements for a reference work. The first passages begin with the nature of different soils for arable farming, plowing, the options for irrigation and recommendations for appropriate fertilization. Subsequently, al-Awwam devotes himself to forestry, concepts for horticulture, housekeeping and the management of agricultural land. Another five chapters are devoted to fruit growing, giving advice on grafting and pruning , as well as raising, caring for, and planting cuttings and dozens of different fruit trees are covered individually. One chapter deals with the methods of storing and storing food after the harvest, before turning to the subjects of cattle breeding, keeping animals, possible diseases and tips on how to cure them in the final sections.

Ibn al-Avwam's reference work is interpreted as the successful attempt to illuminate and explain all aspects of agricultural activities and problems of his time. A successful publication in which agriculture is dealt with rationally and bundled empirical experiences are reflected. Particularly noteworthy is his merit in his book information on the introduction and cultivation of oriental plant species in the western Mediterranean.

Web links

• Ibn al-'Awwām. The Filāḥa-Text-Projekt {English} - introduces Ibn al-Awwam in a short article, describes what is known about him and contains a brief description of the 34 chapters of his book.
• Ibn al-Avwam's Book of Agriculture in Arabic and Spanish, 1802, in two volumes (English); Volume 1 / Volume 2 .
• Ibn al-Avwams Book of Agriculture in French, 1864, online in two volumes (French): Volume 1 / Volume 2 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Garcia Sanchez: Ibn al-'Awwam . In: Lexicon of eminent natural scientists . Volume 2. Elsevier, Munich 2007, ISBN 3-8274-1883-6 , p. 262;
2. ↑ Ibn al-'Awwām's Kitāb al-filāḥa . Filāḥa Texts Project.
3. ^ Karl W. Butzer: The Islamic Traditions of Agroecology: Crosscultural Experience, Ideas and Innovations . In: Cultural Geographies (previously known as Journal of Environment, Culture, Meaning ), 1994, volume 1, pp. 7-50 (including pages 28-29 and 39-40); amazonaws.com (PDF)