Science in Medieval Islam: An Illustrated Introduction [Paperback]

Howard R. Turner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0292781490 | ISBN-13: 978-0292781498 | Publication Date: 1997

During the Golden Age of Islam (seventh through seventeenth centuries A.D.), Muslim philosophers and poets, artists and scientists, princes and laborers created a unique culture that has influenced societies on every continent. This book offers a fully illustrated, highly accessible introduction to an important aspect of that culture--the scientific achievements of medieval Islam. Howard Turner opens with a historical overview of the spread of Islamic civilization from the Arabian peninsula eastward to India and westward across northern Africa into Spain. He describes how a passion for knowledge led the Muslims during their centuries of empire-building to assimilate and expand the scientific knowledge of older cultures, including those of Greece, India, and China. He explores medieval Islamic accomplishments in cosmology, mathematics, astronomy, astrology, geography, medicine, natural sciences, alchemy, and optics. He also indicates the ways in which Muslim scientific achievement influenced the advance of science in the Western world from the Renaissance to the modern era. This survey of historic Muslim scientific achievements offers students and general readers a window into one of the world's great cultures, one which is experiencing a remarkable resurgence as a religious, political, and social force in our own time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book could well become the best means to introduce people to Islam's contributions to science, medicine, and philosophy... The wonderful illustrations make it even more understandable." Emory C. Bogle, Associate Professor of History, University of Richmond

Review

This book could well become the best means to introduce people to Islam's contributions to science, medicine, and philosophy.... The wonderful illustrations make it even more understandable. (Emory C. Bogle, Associate Professor of History, University of Richmond )

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press (1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292781490
• ISBN-13: 978-0292781498
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #547,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncommonly Cool, May 17, 2001

By 

absent_minded_prof (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Science in Medieval Islam: An Illustrated Introduction (Paperback)

This is an extremely terrific introduction to an unfortunately little-known topic. In fifteen chapters and an epilogue, we are treated here to articulate, carefully crafted commentary and overviews of a myriad of medieval Islamic scientific, pseudo-scientific, and philosophical milieus. Turner presents us with chapters upon astronomy, medicine, geography, alchemy, and mathematics, among many other topics, as well as the Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian, etc. roots of the traditions surveyed. Each chapter includes intelligently selected material, which is oftentimes broken down into various subsections, for increased clarity and focus. One thing that the new reader of this book might want to be aware of is that the body of text in most chapters is literally only five to ten pages long. A lot of information is conveyed in the sections at the end of each chapter, which consist of beautiful (black and white) photographs and illustrations of various medieval islamic scientific instruments, observatories, learning academies, etc. Below the photographs are pithy, well-written commentaries upon the objects in the photographs. Don't skip over these commentaries -- they contain some of the best material in the book. Also watch for the helpful timeline in an appendix at the end, the glossary of unfamiliar Arabic vocabulary, and the very useful bibliography. Definitely take the time to scan through the bibliography, if you have any interest in pursuing further work in this area. It contains most of the classic works on this topic, and many lesser-known articles, books, etc.

Many people reading this may be interested in the historical background of Islam, or in the medieval period in and of itself. For people who come to this book from curiosity about how our classical heritage was preserved during the centuries between Rome and the Renaissance, (i.e., while the Islamic world was keeping the scholarly and scientific traditions alive, and Europe generally went to pieces), I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend "Scribes and Scholars: A Guide to the Transmission of Latin and Greek Literature," by L.D. Reynolds. The title tells you what that book is about, and it's very well done.

This book is very interesting, very well-researched, and beautifully presented. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The pictures alone can tell the story., December 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Science in Medieval Islam: An Illustrated Introduction (Paperback)

I was fortunate to read this in manuscript and knew that it was something most readers would like because of the wonderful illustrations. Readers cannot find a better place to begin to understand the fantastic developments in the Islamic world at a time when Europe had lost most ancient knowledge. It will probably become a required book for most courses dealing with the Islamic and Arabic civilizations.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Introduction to Islamic Scientific Achievements, December 8, 2007

By 

Abby Meltzer (Wellesley, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Science in Medieval Islam: An Illustrated Introduction (Paperback)

After having just taken a course on the history of the lands of Islam, I found this book to be extremely interesting. Howard Turner covers every area of science imaginable from astrology to medicine to alchemy. Each chapter gives a good introduction to the achievements that were made by the Islamic scientists. Each chapter also starts off by examining where this field of study originated and how the Muslim scientists expanded upon it or completely changed the field of study. The only thing that disappointed me about the chapters was that they were very short. Each chapter gave a brief overview of the major achievements and beliefs of the times but Turner did not go into great detail on any one area of study. Although the chapters were short, Turner provides excellent photos at the end of each section to show you what these scientists were working with and the diagrams that they created. It was absolutely fascinating to see just how advance science was seven hundred years ago and just how much our world of science is based on what was explored at this time.