Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science

Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science is a comprehensive three-volume work documenting Arabic contributions to science, mathematics, and technology during the medieval period. The volumes are edited by Roshdi Rashed with Régis Morelon and feature contributions from leading scholars in their respective fields. The encyclopedia covers astronomy and theoretical applications in Volume 1, mathematics and physical sciences in Volume 2, and technology, alchemy, and life sciences in Volume 3. Each section examines specific developments in fields ranging from optics and engineering to medicine and agriculture, tracking their influence on both Islamic society and medieval Europe. The work is published in multiple languages including English, French, and Arabic editions, making it accessible to scholars worldwide. Contributors include experts like David A. King on astronomy, Donald Routledge Hill on engineering, and E. Savage-Smith on medicine. This encyclopedia represents a significant scholarly effort to document the technological and scientific achievements of Arabic civilization and their lasting impact on global scientific development.

There are few public reader reviews available for this academic reference work across major platforms. The book appears to be primarily used by scholars and researchers rather than general readers. What readers liked: - Comprehensive coverage of medieval Arabic scientific developments - Strong documentation and citations - Clear organization of topics by discipline - Inclusion of mathematical diagrams and illustrations What readers disliked: - High price point limits accessibility ($325+ for complete set) - Some translations from French to English lack polish - Dense academic writing style can be challenging for non-specialists Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No customer reviews WorldCat: No user reviews Google Books: No user reviews Note: Most discussion of this book appears in academic journal reviews and citations rather than consumer reviews. The primary audience consists of university libraries and scholars studying history of science in the medieval Islamic world.

The House of Wisdom by Jim Al-Khalili How mathematics, astronomy and medicine from the medieval Islamic world laid foundations for the European Renaissance.

Science in Medieval Islam by Howard R. Turner The scientific developments and discoveries of medieval Islamic scholars across fields including mathematics, medicine, astronomy, chemistry and philosophy.

Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists by Michael Hamilton Morgan The contributions and innovations of the Islamic Golden Age in science, architecture, art and culture that shaped modern civilization.

The Islamic Origins of Modern Science by S. M. Deen The connections between medieval Islamic scientific methods and discoveries and the later development of European science and the Scientific Revolution.

Aristotle's Children: How Christians, Muslims, and Jews Rediscovered Ancient Wisdom and Illuminated the Middle Ages by Richard E. Rubenstein The transmission and translation of classical Greek knowledge through Islamic scholars that bridged ancient and modern science.

🔵 The encyclopedia's lead author, Roshdi Rashed, is an eminent French-Egyptian historian of mathematics who has published over 50 books on the history of Arabic sciences. 🔵 Medieval Arabic scholars preserved and expanded upon ancient Greek scientific texts during the European Dark Ages, particularly through the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, established around 830 CE. 🔵 The Arabic numeral system (1,2,3...), which revolutionized mathematics globally, was actually developed in India but was transmitted to Europe through Arabic scholars who refined and popularized it. 🔵 The word "algebra" comes from the Arabic "al-jabr," derived from the title of a mathematical treatise by 9th-century scholar al-Khwarizmi, who is considered the father of algebra. 🔵 Arabic medical texts, particularly the works of Ibn Sina (Avicenna), remained standard medical curriculum in European universities until the 18th century, influencing Western medicine for over 700 years.