Which statement accurately describes al-Idrisi's approach to compiling his map collection?

• A. He included geographic knowledge from travelers' accounts alongside his own observations.
• B. He excluded travelers' stories to avoid bias.
• C. He relied solely on earlier Greek maps.
• D. He focused only on cartography within his own region.

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is that al-Idrisi built his map collection by weaving together travelers’ accounts with his own observations. He traveled to the court of Roger II and gathered information from merchants, sailors, and explorers across the known world, then compared those reports with his own notes and measurements. This blend of secondhand itineraries and firsthand data allowed him to assemble a more comprehensive and cross-verified atlas than relying on a single source. He did draw on Greek geography as a foundation, but he expanded far beyond it by incorporating diverse, contemporary accounts and his own fieldwork. He also aimed to map regions beyond his immediate vicinity, producing a global picture of the known world for his time. This combination of external travel knowledge with personal observation is why this approach is correct.