Mistakes in books

[Anonymous No.13307766]

This goes to books in their original language and books that are translated to your own language. I am currently reading a book by Albert Hourani about the Arabs. In it Hourani gives many birth/death dates and in some of them I notice some weird things, because some people were living 120 years. I did some research and it is kind funny: In one specific date in his original english book, Hourani says: (968–1110), in my translated version I have (985-1110) which are both wrong. It is funny because the guy is British and even encyclopedia Britannica says the "correct" date (969-1007).

In this day and age where translators have it easy, how can this even happen? And worse, imagine reading this book in 1991 and not have the internet or an encyclopedia to crosscheck the information.