Muslim Science

Muslim Science

Medicinal The Islamic world helped developed many medicinal things that we still use today: •Hospitals •Surgery •Pharmacology

Hospitals Before the Muslims, there were no hospitals as we know today. But the Muslims were the ones that figured out to quarantine people who were sick. They concluded that diseases could travel by air, and the purpose of early hospitals was to prevent spreading of diseases.

Surgery The Muslims made many advancements in surgery, especially in eye surgery. They were also among the first to use anesthetics, such as opium.

Pharmacology The Muslims inherited great knowledge in Pharmacology from the Greeks, Persians and Indians. They also studied many things themselves, such as herbs and the effects of many drugs. They also had numerous medical books devoted to the subject of drugs.

Astronomy Muslims learned to study the stars as well, and made many advancements there: •Observatories •The Astrolabe •Calendar Accuracy

Observatories The Islamic world was also the first to come up with the idea of scientific observatories. Their observatories were what European observatories were based upon, which are the forerunners to our modern observatories today.

The Astrolabe One of the main Muslim advances in astronomy was the astrolabe. It was a fairly simple little device, and made star gazing very much easier. The more mechanical versions of the Astrolabe are considered the forerunner to the mechanical clock, what we use today.

Calendar Accuracy Islamic knowledge was very beneficial, creating a calendar that, instead of like ours being off one day every 4 years, it is off one day every 3770 years, which means that it has not added a day since its creation.

Basic Science The Islamic world also had great influence in other areas of scientific study such as: •Physics •Scientific Method •Zoology •Chemistry

Physics Islamic people also knew a lot about physics, especially optics. They were the first to truly understand the eye and about the optical illusion of the sun and moon. They also were the first to fully explain the rainbow.

Scientific Method Before Islamic science came up with it, there was no formal scientific method. Experiments could not be repeated, and hence conclusions could not be drawn and advancements not made. One The Muslim world made up the sceintific method, sceience could really take off.

Zoology Muslims also learned a lot about animals, notably horses and maybe even hippos!! They also learned a lot about birds and a lot about domestication of animals.

Chemistry The Islamic world also made great advancements in alchemy, or chemistry. We still use their acidbase theory and still categorize things into animal, vegetable and mineral, which they did first.

Important People These great Muslim advancements in science were the works of many great men, a few of whom are outline here: •Al-Biruni •Ibn Sina •Omar Khayyam •Ibn Rushd

Al-Biruni ( 973 – 1048) A.D.

A.D.

Abu Raihan Muhammad al-Biruni pioneered the theory that the earth rotated on an axis and observed qualities of stones and flower petals. He also figured out how to calculate the direction to Mecca from any given place and established trigonometry distinctly in mathematics. Because of these advancements, he is often considered the greatest scientist of all time.

Ibn Sina ( 980 – 1037) A.D.

A.D.

Abu Ali al-Husayn Ibn Abdullah Ibn Sina was a great scientist and physician and treated many kings. He also wrote a medical textbook called Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb which was the medical authority until about A.D.605. He also realized many ways that diseases could be spread and came up with ways to contain them.

Omar( 1048 Khayyam – 1122) A.D.

A.D.

Ghiyath al-Din Abul Fatah Umar Ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyam made advanced in nearly every field but most notably in astronomy. The calendar he developed round 1090 is still more acurate than the one we use today; While we add a day every four years, he added one only every 3770 years.

Ibn Rushd ( 1126 – 1198) A.D.

A.D.

Abu'l Waleed Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Rushd wrote a book called Kitab al-Kulyat fi al-Tibb. He was also the personal physician to important caliphs, and was also a great philosopher. His many books were still used throughout Europe in the 19th century.

Bibliography

• http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/is • http:// www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/introduction/woi_know • http:// www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/le / • http://www.islam-usa.com/im4.html