• How did scientific ideas pass from the Islamic world to the European Renaissance during the 15th and 16th centuries?

• What is the connection between mathematical innovations produced in the Islamic world and mathematical astronomy during the Renaissance?

• Did Copernicus make use of the achievements of Arabic/Islamic scholars? And did his 16^th century counterparts do the same?

The talk will make the case for the above using evidences of original Arabic scientific manuscripts and their Latin counterparts and marginal notes left on Arabic astronomical manuscripts

Short Biography

George Saliba World-leading expert on the history of Arabic and Islamic Science. He is professor of Arabic and Islamic science in the Department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University. In addition to his numerous academic publications Saliba knows very well how to introduce the subject to the general public. He appeared in several documentaries including the famous Empire of Faith and other BBC documentaries talking about the achievements of Islamic civilisations and its impact on the Medieval Europe. Recently he has been named a distinguished scholar at the library of Congress.

Prof Saliba studies the development of scientific ideas from late antiquity till early modern times, with a special focus on the various planetary theories that were developed within the Islamic civilization and the impact of such theories on early European astronomy. His most recent research deals with the latest findings regarding the transmission of astronomical and mathematical ideas from the Islamic world to Renaissance Europe during the late fifteenth century and throughout the sixteenth.

Abstract

This illustrated talk will explore the scientific ideas that passed from the Islamic world to the European Renaissance during the 15th and 16th centuries. It will show the connection between mathematical innovations produced in the Islamic world and mathematical astronomy during the Renaissance, and particularly in the works of Copernicus. It will rely on evidence that was culled from copies of original Arabic scientific manuscripts and their Latin counterparts.

The talk will then conclude by demonstrating that Copernicus was not alone in using Arabic/Islamic astronomical material, but that his sixteenth-century contemporaries had also used similar Islamic material extensively, as can still be traced through the marginal notes they left on Arabic astronomical manuscripts that they had used for the purpose.

To read a transcript of his latest work on Islamic Science please click here.

The lecture is open to the general public.

Seating cannot be reserved. First come, first served basis. We suggest you arrive at least 20 mins early to avoid disappointment.

For information about prayer rooms, please click here.

There will be a small buffet laid out outside the lecture hall with a limited selection of food specifically for those attending who will be breaking fast. Food cannot be brought into the hall under any circumstance so it will have to be eaten prior to entrance.

For a map of the venue, please click here. The building is number 29 on the map with entrance from the exhibition road (where the arrow is on the map)

For more information contact : May Calil on calilm@caabu.org or 0207 832 1325