Sonja Brentjes, Teaching and Learning the Sciences in Islamicate Societies (800-1700) (2018) (original) (raw)
Related papers
Teaching and Learning the Sciences in Islamicate Societies (800-1700), by Sonja Brentjes
Teaching and Learning the Sciences in Islamicate Societies (800-1700), by Sonja Brentjes, 2020
First Paragraph: Studies on science in Islamic societies have been on the rise for a while. The book in question takes as its subject the learning and teaching of the sciences in Islamic (or “Islamicate,” as the author adopts Marshall Hodgson’s conceptualization) societies prior to the eighteenth century. It is penned by Sonja Brentjes, who has written extensively on various aspects of the mathematical sciences in Islamic societies. Her book is not a comprehensive account but rather “an erratic process, broken by many gaps and interrupted by too many questions I could not answer or perhaps not even ask,” but it should also be added that she skillfully engages with the large number of primary and secondary sources (p. 262).
There are an cstimated 10.000 scientifie manuscripts in Arabie. Persian. and Turkish whicb. together Wilh about 1.000 aSlronomieal insLIuments. constitute the major sources for our knowledge of lhe exact sciences. aSlronomy and matbemalics. in Islamic civilization. MOst of these manuscripts and instruments dale from aIler Lbe most creative period of !slamic science. whicb spans the cigbLb ID Lbe fifteenth century. However. sorne laIe manuscripts also preserve for us earlier works wbicb would otbcrwise be losl, and sorne laLe instruments bear fealuees known 10 us only from carly LexLS.
Documents and the History of the Early Islamic World
Documents and the History of the Early Islamic World, 2014
has a Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago and lives in Cairo. Her research interests are focused on connections between ancient and modern Egypt, with a particular emphasis on medicine, magic and daily life.
The Islamic Golden Age: The Myth of Lost Knowledge
It is claimed that European scholars lost nearly all the Greek and Latin scientific texts after the fall of the Roman empire. Alison Abbott, Senior European Correspondent for the scientific journal Nature claims that by the fifteenth century “Many Arabic works had by then been translated into Latin, but the sources themselves were neglected”. In reality, the Greek sources of those Arabic translations were not neglected. Most of the Greek knowledge which was preserved, was preserved independently of the Muslim world. Even without the help of the Muslim scholars, our knowledge of Greek mathematics and science would be virtually the same as it is now.
Islamic scientific tradition in history
Islamic scientific tradition in history, 2014
I add only the Introduction and the first chapter which outlines the framework for evaluating the history of scientific tradition in Islamic civilization. I will be glad to see comments from anyone who reads it.
Medina to House of Wisdom: Islam and Muslim Contribution to the Science of History
MAQOLAT: Journal of Islamic Studies, 2024
This paper explores the pivotal role of Islam and Muslim scholars in advancing the science of history from the early days of Medina to the flourishing intellectual centre of The House of Wisdom. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of historical methodologies, preservation of historical knowledge, and cultural essence in both pre-Islamic and Islamic realms. Employing a qualitative research approach, the paper analyzes various genres of Islamic historical writing, including Tabaqat, Tarajim, geographical history, and universal history, as well as the methodologies used in documenting and analyzing historical events, such as logical interpretation, natural law interpretation, and speculative interpretation. Through an examination of libraries, scholars, and the transmission of historical knowledge, the paper highlights the enduring legacy of Islamic historiography and its impact on subsequent historiographical traditions. The research findings underscore the significance of Islamic historiography in shaping our understanding of the past and its ongoing relevance in modern academic research. The study contributes to the field by detailing the specific methodologies and analytical frameworks developed by Muslim historians, offering a nuanced perspective on historical processes, and suggesting avenues for future research to further explore the rich heritage of Islamic historical scholarship.