The Golden Age Presented by the Islamic Physical Science - Essay Example

3 April Islamic Physical Science in Golden Age Introduction Muslim scientists laid the basis for modern science. Theymade progress in every field of science. Arabic was the international language of science for over 700 years and Muslims reigned its every field. This era was the prime of Muslims. Bayt al-Hikma, or the House of Wisdom was established in Iraq in the ninth century. This was the time when most of Europe was lost in the Dark Ages. Muslim scientists, on the other hand were brought together in Bayt al-Hikma and scientific discoveries were made. Most of these scientists are unheard of in the West or even the Muslim world. The Golden Age is the time between Ninth and Eleventh Century (Mohamed 14). The rich heritage of this era has been forgotten, but the achievements by Muslims in the field of Mathematics, Astrology and Geography are discussed in detail; 2. Mathematics The Muslims introduced the basics of modern day mathematics. Algebra was created by Muslim scientists. Mathematics was used to calculate inheritance and portions. It was important for use in trade and everyday dealings. Though, the biggest contribution to the field was creation of algorithm, basic algebra and geometry. These achievement are under shadowed by the fact that algorithms are used in computer programming and modern day mathematics. The decimal and place value systems are other examples that are in use to date and form the basis of modern mathematics. Scientists, along with their major contributions made in the Golden Age (Ninth to Eleventh Century) in the field of mathematics are discussed in detail; 2.1 Al Khwarizmi In Muslim scientists, he is considered to be the founding mathematician and was born in 780 AD. His contributions paved way for further innovation in geometry and in particular algebra. He wrote various books on mathematics and these were translated into Latin. Algorithm, in fact is based on his name in Latin. He came to Baghdad in Bayt al-Hikma, the House of Wisdom. His book “The Book of Addition and Subtraction by the Method of Calculations of the Hindus” in about 826 AD, introduced the use of Hindu numerals 1-9, the introduction of number 0 and the place value system (Brezina 46). This system is still in use as of today and forms the very basis of modern mathematics. It would not be wrong to say that he laid the basis for everyday mathematics we use today. His book “The Compendious Book on Calculation and Balancing” in almost 830 AD, explained detailed calculations and basic functions of equations, addition and subtraction (Brezina 44). His equations form the basis of Algebra and he explained the way to balance equations by diving and multiplying. These equations were used in everyday problems and laid foundation for next generation Muslim scientists to perfect Algebra and expand its implications. He introduced the system of square and roots. Furthermore, he made tables for value of sine and cosine and made trigonometry (Houtsma 413). For most part, this trigonometry is unchanged and still in use today, which has uses in construction, navigation and mapping systems to name a few. His work was translated and spread across Europe. He also contributed towards geography and astronomy. 2.2 Al Uqlidisi Al Uqlidisi published his work about a century later than Al Khwarizmi. He worked as a publisher in Baghdad. His main contribution towards mathematics was the introduction of decimal system in about 952 AD. He perfected the use of numerals with decimals and also introduced fractions (Chabert et al. 483). He expanded the work by Al Khwarizmi. His contribution paved way for exact values and fractions to be used by next generation of Muslim scientists. In simple, he filled in the missing pieces in work before him and made arithmetic in its modern form. He laid groundwork for modern calculations. Imagine scientists from the European Renaissance achieving results without this base of mathematics provided by the Muslims in this Golden Age. 3. Astronomy Muslim scientists had particular interest in astronomy as it related to their religion. The prayer times are related with the phases of the sun and this encouraged them to explore the field. Tables were made to predict the timings and phases of the sun. Furthermore, the Islamic calendar system was based on the phases of the moon. The most contributing factor to the development of the field, however, was the basics of astronomy mentioned in the Quran. This factor led to the track of a solar year that was determined by the Muslims to a degree of astonishing accuracy. Before the Muslim scientists stepped into the field, some crude models were made by the Greeks and the Indians. Al Khwarizmi was also among the first to introduce astronomy as a science to Muslims. His tables contain the movement of the Sun, the Moon and the known planets of the time. 3.1 Al Battani He was born in 858 AD near Urfa, which is in modern day Turkey. He was a Muslim astronomer, who calculated the solar year to be 365 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes and 24 seconds in 880 AD (Thurston 194). This was an astonishing achievement of its time. His work was mainly done in the field and therefore, was based on ground observation. At the time, Astronomy was influenced by the Ptolemaic system. It was a modified model of a geocentric system, which makes Earth as the centre of the universe and the Sun, the Moon, the five known planets of the time and the stars to revolve around it. Al Battani could not change the model, but he did find flaws in Ptolemaic system based on his calculations and observations. His new tables for movement of the Sun and the Moon were considered to be very accurate and superseded Ptolemaic system (North 221). His observations and calculations made basis for the Copernican revolution, which takes a shift from the Ptolemaic model to the heliocentric model with the planets revolving in eccentric orbits around the Sun at the centre. 3.2 Al Shatir Al Sharir was born in 1304 AD. He was from Syria and worked as a timekeeper in the mosque. His work was based on detailed observation. He started questioning the accuracy of Ptolemaic model based on his daily observation. His major achievement was to calculate the size of the Sun and the Moon (Saliba 239). His calculations were based on observations after an eclipse. He was also successful to calculate the distance of the Sun and the Moon. He made a model, which was superior to Ptolemaic model and was in harmony with the principle of physics, mathematics and on ground observations. Though, the model was an improved version of geocentric model, but Al Shatir questioned the theory of ether and the physics involved to prove the calculations based on Ptolemaic system to be inaccurate. This model is considered by some to be the basis of scientific revolution in astronomy during the European Renaissance. His work is acknowledged to be the start of an evolution that leads to the modern model of the solar system in use today (Selin 127). 4. Geography Muslims were interested in the field of geography, because their empire was stretching and there was a need for map making. Many of the Muslim geographers were travelers and documented the areas along with geographical features and cultures. Geography at the time was not well developed and in particular there was no accurate way of making maps. There was no survey techniques developed at the time. The Muslims carried forward the crude work of geography from the Greeks. The books were mainly in Latin and they were translated into Arabic. After the books being translated, interest in the field grew. The field was also related to astronomy. The arithmetic principles along with algorithms made by Al Khwarizmi were used to make maps and also a grid system. Before Muslims, geography was not well developed and it is safe to say that Muslim scientists did make revolutionary contributions in moving this field forward. Some work was also done on environmental science or the climates, but it was not revolutionary. Major Muslim scientists and their achievements in development of this field are discussed in detail; 4.1 Al Balkhi Al balkhi was the founding Muslim scientist for geography. He was born in 850 AD in Balkh, which is now in modern day Afghanistan. He was also a mathematician. In the field of geography, he founded the Balkhi school of mapping system. The system was based on terrestrial mapping or in simple words it accounted the movement of the Sun, the Moon, the planets and the stars to judge the direction and the patterns served as a reference point or a start point for the mapping systems. It was difficult to orientate, but this system provided a good reference for Muslim travelers to make maps. Al Balkhi travelled extensively throughout the Muslim world and gave a detailed account of customs and people in different areas of the Muslim empire. He produced his maps in 920 AD (Bosworth and Asimov 218). His knowledge was further developed in particular the Ottoman Empire, and his work formed the basis for the Turks to map as per a grid system. 4.2 Al Biruni Al Biruni was born in 973 AD in Kath, which is in modern day Uzbekistan. He was a mathematician, astronomer and contributed towards geography. He spent most of his life in Ghazni, which is in modern day Afghanistan. He calculated the latitude of his hometown Kath, by using the maximum altitude of the Sun. He is very well known and famous for his calculation of the radius of the Earth and explained its rotation on its own axis (Scheppler 38). He travelled to modern day India to accomplish his experiment. His exact method for determining the radius of the Earth is unknown, but he based his calculations on his observations of the height of mountains. His results were astonishingly accurate. His calculations on the size of the Earth are accurate than anyone had done before. His calculations match up with modern day calculations on the size and circumference of the Earth. He was also a philosopher and an astronomer. He published his work in Arabic and Persian and made major contributions in developing the Central Asia. 5. Conclusion The Muslim scientists contributed in merely every field of science. They were far ahead in philosophy, mathematics, physics, medicine, astronomy and geography than any other civilization of the time. Mostly, the European Renaissance is considered to be the basis for modern discoveries and revolutionizing science. The fact is that Muslims conquered these fields about 600 years before the European Renaissance. Their work was translated from Arabic into Latin and taken to Europe. Their work in mathematics in particular still in use today and forms the basis for modern mathematics and algorithms are used in computer sciences as well. Many of publications are lost in time and not accounted for, but even with the surviving material it is enough to say that Muslims revolutionized modern sciences. Works Cited Mohamed, Mohaini. Great Muslim Mathematicians. Johor Darul Tazim: Penerbit, 2000. Print. Brezina, Corona. Al-Khwarizmi: The Inventor of Algebra. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2006. Print. Houtsma, M. E.J. Brill’s First Encyclopedia of Islam 1913-1936. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1987. Print. Chabert, Jean, et al. A History of Algorithms: From the Pebble to the Microchip. New York: Springer, 1999. Print. Thurston, Hugh. Early Astronomy. New York: Springer, 1996. Print. North, John. Cosmos: An Illustrated History of Astronomy and Cosmology. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2008. Print. Saliba, George. A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam. New York: New York University Press, 1994. Print. Selin, Helaine. Encyclopedia of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997. Print. Bosworth, Clifford and M. Asimov. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. New Delhi: Shri Jainendra Press, 2003. Print. Scheppler, Bill. Al-Biruni: Master Astronomer and Muslim Scholar of the Eleventh Century. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2006. Print. Read More