Science and technology are often thought to be at odds with religion. Science can be presented as an honest pursuit of knowledge or a method to disprove the existence of God. However, this isn’t always the case. In the modern Islamic world, science and technology are viewed in a more favorable light. Science is seen as a tool for advancement, a way to be on par with the West. In addition, many argue that science was in fact the catalyst for the greatest era in the Muslim world, “The Golden Age of Islam.” Modern exhibits and films play on the curiosity and passion of observers to describe the achievements of this golden age as well as its downfall. However, there is a common theme in many of these works, the Golden Age was a period of great
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Jim al Khalili introduces the Golden Age of Islam, as one of the greatest eras of scientific achievement. Furthermore, Jim argues that this golden age inspired many of the great scientific works of the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. In fact, a major part of this documentary focuses on how Islamic astronomers influenced Copernicus’s findings of a heliocentric system. This description of the Golden Age of Islam as the predecessor to a “European” Golden Age, is a smart and conscious decision. Unlike Fetih 1453, the BBC documentary captures a much greater and diverse audience. The primary audience of this work is, obviously, the British public. Hence, this documentary is almost obligated to appeal to a more Western perspective of science. This is highlighted by the documentary’s focus on “hard” or more empirical sciences like physics, mathematics and astronomy rather than ancient studies like humoral medicine and healing. As aforementioned, the key focus of the documentary was the work of Islamic astronomers and their influence on future scientists like Copernicus, Isaac Newton and Galileo. In Copernicus’s work, there are diagrams similar to those formulated by Islamic scientists. Jim al Khalili focuses on a particular diagram known as the Tusi couple. The Tusi couple is perfectly copied in Copernicus’s work and is …show more content…
As Laurent Ferri stated, “I am a historian, I have to look at the facts … there was a decline.” Ferri attributes the decline of science in Muslim societies to the lack of scientific works produced after the 14th century. As for the Golden Age of Islam, Ferri has a similar approach to Jim al Khalili. Ferri examines and presents works that influenced Western study of science. For instance, Ferri presents Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, a comprehensive work on medical healing and study3. This Canon of Medicine would later be translated and used in Western schools. Ferri also presents a translation of Euclid’s Elements and Jabir ibn Hayyan’s work on alchemy4. Ferri implies that the translation of Euclid’s Elements sparked a dissemination of mathematical knowledge and inquiry in the Islamic world. Furthermore, ibn Hayyan’s work would provide a concrete basis to develop modern
Jim al Khalili introduces the Golden Age of Islam, as one of the greatest eras of scientific achievement. Furthermore, Jim argues that this golden age inspired many of the great scientific works of the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. In fact, a major part of this documentary focuses on how Islamic astronomers influenced Copernicus’s findings of a heliocentric system. This description of the Golden Age of Islam as the predecessor to a “European” Golden Age, is a smart and conscious decision. Unlike Fetih 1453, the BBC documentary captures a much greater and diverse audience. The primary audience of this work is, obviously, the British public. Hence, this documentary is almost obligated to appeal to a more Western perspective of science. This is highlighted by the documentary’s focus on “hard” or more empirical sciences like physics, mathematics and astronomy rather than ancient studies like humoral medicine and healing. As aforementioned, the key focus of the documentary was the work of Islamic astronomers and their influence on future scientists like Copernicus, Isaac Newton and Galileo. In Copernicus’s work, there are diagrams similar to those formulated by Islamic scientists. Jim al Khalili focuses on a particular diagram known as the Tusi couple. The Tusi couple is perfectly copied in Copernicus’s work and is …show more content…
As Laurent Ferri stated, “I am a historian, I have to look at the facts … there was a decline.” Ferri attributes the decline of science in Muslim societies to the lack of scientific works produced after the 14th century. As for the Golden Age of Islam, Ferri has a similar approach to Jim al Khalili. Ferri examines and presents works that influenced Western study of science. For instance, Ferri presents Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, a comprehensive work on medical healing and study3. This Canon of Medicine would later be translated and used in Western schools. Ferri also presents a translation of Euclid’s Elements and Jabir ibn Hayyan’s work on alchemy4. Ferri implies that the translation of Euclid’s Elements sparked a dissemination of mathematical knowledge and inquiry in the Islamic world. Furthermore, ibn Hayyan’s work would provide a concrete basis to develop modern