Abul-Fadl Jaafar
Tuesday, 01 April 2008
Abul-Fadl Jaafar ibn Ali al-Dimishqi is an economist who activated in Damascus and other places in Syria.
He composed in or before 1175 the Kitab al-ishara ila mahasin al-tijara wa matrifa aljayyid al-atrad wa radiha wa ghushush al-mudallisin fiha (Book explaining the benefits of commerce and the knowledge of good and bad qualities [of wares] and the falsifications of counterfeiters).
One of the two manuscripts of it (both Damascene) was finished on April 20, 1175. It is a work of great importance dealing not only with the knowledge of many wares and their falsifications, but also with the theory and practice of commerce, and even with economic subjects.
It examines such questions as the true meaning of wealth or ownership, the various kinds of possessions, the origin and use of money, the means of testing money, how to pack and preserve goods, how to determine their average prices, and how to protect property, whilst the chapters relative to wares contain abundant information on stones and metals, perfumes, textiles, etc., and the connected arts and trades.
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