Science in al-Andalus
Paul Lunde
The scientific and cultural flourishing of Islamic Spain, also known
as Al-Andalus, spanned from the 8th to the 15th centuries, and was
marked by a remarkable exchange of ideas and innovation. During this
time, Muslim scholars made significant contributions in various fields
including astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and philosophy, which
greatly influenced Western thought and scholarship. One of the most
notable achievements of Islamic Spain was in the field of astronomy.
The renowned scholar, Al-Zarqali, also known as Arzachel in the West,
developed an innovative water clock that could measure the movement of
the stars and predict the positions of celestial bodies with great
accuracy. He also produced a set of astronomical tables, known as the
Tables of Toledo, which became a standard reference in Western
astronomy for centuries. Islamic Spain was also a center of
mathematical scholarship. The works of Al-Khwarizmi, a Persian
mathematician who lived in Al-Andalus, had a profound impact on the
development of algebra in the West. Al-Khwarizmi's book, "Al-Jabr",
introduced the concept of variables and laid the foundations for
algebraic equations. His work also influenced the development of
trigonometry, which was later used by European astronomers to study
the movements of the planets. Medicine was another field in which
Islamic Spain excelled. The physician and philosopher, Ibn Rushd, also
known as Averroes, wrote extensively on medical topics, including
pharmacology, surgery, and anatomy. His works, along with those of
other Muslim physicians, were translated into Latin and became the
foundation of medical education in Europe for centuries.
