An Encyclopaedia of the Universe

The Wonders of Creation and the Oddities of Existence (Add.Ms. 471) was written in the late 13th century by Zakariyyā ibn Muḥammad ibn Maḥmūd al-Qazwini, an eminent scholar from Qazvin, Iran. Qazwini’s Wonders, also known as The Cosmography (or ʻAjāʼib al-makhlūqāt wa Gharāʼib al-mawjūdāt) encompasses the known world from the perspective of medieval Islam. A richly illustrated amalgam of scientific knowledge, astrology, folklore and tales of travel, the text was influential as it brought a broad range of ideas into a new format. The Wonders became a staple text across madrasas and courtly circles, serving as both an educational tool and source of entertainment.

Due to its popularity, many manuscript copies of the Wonders continued to be reproduced across the Islamic World from its inception through to the 19th century. The text was originally composed in Arabic by Qazwini, and ongoing scholarly debate suggests that he also authored a Persian version of the cosmography himself, rather than a later anonymous translation as had been previously thought. Alongside Arabic and Persian versions, Turkish translations can also be found in surviving manuscripts.

Influenced by Neoplatonic theories of emanation, Qazwini’s encyclopaedia sets out the divine order of the universe; from the stars and planets, the sky and seas, through the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms down to the smallest insects.