Medieval Marvels at UTD Library

Do you know where the word Algorithm got its name? Or how we discovered pulmonary circulation? The McDermott Library, in collaboration with the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the UTD Cosmology Group and the Institute of Medieval and Post Medieval Studies (IMPMS), invite you to learn about some of the hundreds of medieval masters whose discoveries contributed to shape our knowledge today, see links [1, 2] for extended lists. Explore posters on both the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Library from November 14th through January 15th. This small exhibition is dedicated to Dr. Ahmed and his wife, who were honored by the University for their generous gift at the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Dr. Basheer Ahmed, who provided the poster for this exhibit, is also the president of the Institute of Medieval and Post Medieval Studies.

The exhibit covers a selection of these scientists and scholars in astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geosciences, cartography, philosophy, literature, poetry, medicine, surgery, botanical sciences, algorithmics, technology, exploration, law and sociology.

If you have additional questions about this exhibit, please contact the exhibit initiator and coordinator: AAAS and APS distinguished Professor of Physics and Astrophysics, Mustapha Ishak at mishak@utdallas.edu.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Golden_Age

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pre-modern_Arab_scientists_and_scholars

Illustration of scholars featured in this exhibit

Illustration from https://tipyaanacademy.com/islamic-golden-age-muslims-civilization/

The exhibit includes the following selection of scholars:

Abu Nasr Al-Farabi (872 – 950)
Also known as Alpharabius. Arab scientist and philosopher, considered as one of the preeminent thinkers of medieval era.
Al-Battani (858 – 929)
Also known as Albatenius. Arab mathematician, scientists and astronomer who improved existing values for the length of the year and of the seasons.
Ibn Sina (980 – 1037)
Also known as Avicenna. Persian philosopher and scientist known for his contributions to Aristotelian philosophy and medicine.
Ibn Battuta (1304 – 1369)
Also known as Shams ad–Din. Arab traveler and scholar who wrote one of the most famous travel books in history, the Rihlah.
Ibn Rushd (1126 – 1198)
Also known as Averroes. Arab philosopher and scholar who produced a series of summaries and commentaries on most of Aristotle’s works and on Plato’s Republic.
Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi (780 – 850)
Also known as Algoritmi or Algaurizin. His works introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals and the concepts of algebra into European mathematics.
Omar Khayyam (1048 – 1131)
Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet, known for his scientific achievements and Rubaiyat (“quatrains”).
Thabit ibn Qurra (826 – 901)
Also known as Thebit. Arab mathematician, physician and astronomer; who was the first reformer of the Ptolemaic system and the founder of statics.
Abu Bakr Al-Razi (865 – 925)
Also known as Rhazes. Persian alchemist and philosopher, who was one of the greatest physicians in history.
Jabir Ibn Haiyan (722 – 804)
Also known as Geber. The father of Arab chemistry known for his highly influential works on alchemy and metallurgy.
Ibn Al-Haytham (965 – 1040)
Also known as Alhazen. Arab astronomer and mathematician known for his important contributions to the principles of optics and the use of scientific experiments.
Ibn Zuhr (1091 – 1161)
Also known as Avenzoar. Arab physician and surgeon, known for his influential book Al-Taisir Fil-Mudawat Wal-Tadbeer (Book of Simplification Concerning Therapeutics and Diet).
Ibn Khaldun (1332 – 1406)
Arab historiographer and historian who developed one of the earliest nonreligious philosophies of history. Often considered as one of the forerunners of modern historiography, sociology and economics.
Ibn Al-Baitar (1197 – 1248)
Arab scientist, botanist and physician who systematically recorded the discoveries made by Islamic physicians in the Middle A.
Ibn Battuta (1304 – 1368)
Muslim Moroccan explorer: visited most of the known Islamic world, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China.
Abbas ibn Firnas (809/810 – 887)
Also known as Armen Firman was a Berber Andalusian polymath:[2][3][4] an inventor, astronomer, physician, chemist, engineer, Andalusi musician, and Arabic-language poet.[4] He also experimented with a form of flight using glider attached to his body.
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201- 1274)
Persian philosopher and mathematician: known for his five volume summary of the trigonometry of his time.
Ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (973 – after 1050)
Astronomer and polymath. He also worked on Indology, Comparative Religion, geodesy, and anthropology.
Ibn al-Nafis (1213 – 1288)
Polymath whose areas of work included medicine, surgery, physiology, anatomy, biology, Islamic studies, jurisprudence, and philosophy; the first to describe the pulmonary circulation of blood.
Al-Zahrawi (936–1013)
Medieval surgeon, wrote comprehensive medical texts combining Middle-Eastern, Indian and Greco-Roman classical teachings, shaped European surgical procedures, wrote Al-Tasrif, a thirty-volume collection of medical practice.
Al-Tabari (c. 838 – c. 870)
Was a Persian Muslim scholar, physician and psychologist, who produced one of the first encyclopedia of medicine titled Firdous al-Hikmah (“Paradise of wisdom”).
Al Rūmī (1207 – 1273)
writer and poet. To this day, his poems sold millions of copies in many languages (his poems went even into modern pop songs like ones by Madonna).
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140414-americas-best-selling-poet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7016090.stm
Ulugh Beg (1394 – 1449)
Was notable for his work in astronomy-related mathematics, such as trigonometry and spherical geometry, as well as his general interests in the arts and intellectual activities.
Al-Idrisi (1100 – 1165)
Geographer, cartographer and Egyptologist. He created the Tabula Rogeriana, one of the most advanced medieval world maps.