Al-Bakri wrote about Europe, North Africa, and the Arabian peninsula. Only two of his works have survived. His ''Mu'jam mā ista'jam
contains a list of place names mostly within the Arabian peninsula with an introduction giving the geographical background. His most important work is his Kitāb al-Masālik wa-al-Mamālik'' ("
Book of Highways and of Kingdoms") (كتاب المساليك والمماليك). This was composed in 1068, based on literature and the reports of merchants and travellers, including
Muhammad ibn Yūsuf al-Warrāq (904–973) and
Abraham ben Jacob. It is one of the most important sources for the history of West Africa and gives crucial information on the
Ghana Empire, the
Almoravid dynasty and the
trans-Saharan trade. His works are noted for the relative objectivity with which they present information. For each area, he describes the people, their customs, as well as the geography, climate and main cities. Similar information was also contained in his written geography of the Arabian Peninsula, and in the encyclopedia of the world in which he wrote. He also presented various anecdotes about each area. Unfortunately, parts of his main work have been lost, and of the surviving parts, some have never been published. ==Legacy==