The Moral Vision
How to Lead, Even in Defeat
~ 312 ~
HOW TO LEAD, EVEN IN DEFEAT
In 1827 A.D., the Mediterranean island of Sicily
became part of the growing Islamic empire. For
nearly three hundred years it remained under
Islamic rule. Then, in 1090, it was reconquered by
the Normans.
The founder of the Norman kingdom of Sicily was
Roger II (1095-1154). In 1110 he succeeded his
brother as count of Sicily and in 1130 was crowned
king. Although he belonged to a nation of
conquerors, and it was the Muslims whom he had
defeated, he still retained a high respect for Arabs
and Islam. His coronation mantle was designed by
a Muslim artist, and had Arabic inscriptions woven
into it. After his coronation, he decided that he
would like to have a chart showing the full extent of
the Norman empire. He chose a Muslim
cartographer, Al-Idrisi, to design this chart, for he
was the greatest expert in the field. Al-Idrisi then
went on to prepare an atlas for the king, consisting
of seventy maps and extensive geographical data.
Originally written in Arabic, the first European
edition of this atlas was published in 1619.
