Muslims carried the world during the dark ages. They were the bridge that helped advance all sciences we know now. If you want to claim that the last 60 years were a disaster, sure.
The Muslim world, particularly during the Golden Age of Islam (8th to 14th century), made significant contributions to various sciences. Here are some notable areas:
1. Mathematics:
• Algebra: Al-Khwarizmi is known as the “father of algebra.” His works introduced systematic solutions of linear and quadratic equations.
• Trigonometry: Scholars like Al-Battani contributed to the development of trigonometry, improving the understanding of sine, cosine, and tangent functions.
2. Astronomy:
• Muslim astronomers made precise observations and improvements to the Ptolemaic model of the universe. The works of Al-Battani, Al-Zarqali, and Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) were foundational.
• They developed new instruments, such as the astrolabe, and improved navigational techniques.
3. Medicine:
• Ibn Sina (Avicenna) wrote “The Canon of Medicine,” which was a standard medical text in Europe and the Islamic world for centuries.
• Al-Razi (Rhazes) made significant contributions to pediatrics, ophthalmology, and infectious diseases.
4. Chemistry:
• Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber) is often considered the father of chemistry. He developed early techniques of distillation, crystallization, and filtration, and described numerous chemical substances.
5. Physics:
• Ibn al-Haytham made groundbreaking work in optics, explaining vision and light reflection and refraction. His work laid the foundations for the modern science of optics.
6. Geography and Cartography:
• Al-Idrisi created one of the most detailed and accurate maps of the world in the medieval period.
• Muslim geographers improved the understanding of the Earth’s geography and developed more accurate maps and navigational tools.
7. Philosophy and Natural Sciences:
• Philosophers like Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Islamic thought, which influenced both the Islamic world and medieval Europe.
• They made contributions to the understanding of natural sciences, ethics, and metaphysics.
8. Botany and Agriculture:
• Scholars documented and classified numerous plants and their medicinal properties.
• They improved agricultural techniques, including irrigation and crop rotation.
These contributions were facilitated by a culture that valued learning, translation of earlier Greek, Persian, and Indian texts, and the establishment of institutions like the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.