The hidden Islamic sciences (Welt der Wunder)

7:06

11 Sep 2007

History of Science, Mathematics

Hendrik Hey

This undated clip from the German science TV show, “Welt der Wunder”, hosted by Hendrik Hey, suggests a method by which information traveled from the Middle East during the time of the Crusades to Europe via the Crusaders, via rulers who were familiar with both Christian and Islamic cultures and supported local Muslim scholars.  The video looks generally at the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Topics addressed:  Mathematics (Arabic/Indian and Roman numerals), Crusades, Richard the Lion-hearted, Saladin (Salah al-Dīn), Frederick II, astronomy, water clocks, Ibn al-Athīr, Sicily

The video includes a German audio track and both English and Arabic subtitles.

Evaluation:

The material on Islam is within the bounds of what Muslims have historically understood as acceptable, although there is little here about Islam as a religion.  Christianity is constructed in the video as being involved in political intrigues, with which some may disagree.

There is little here clearly discussed about science, but what there is accurately reflects current understandings of scientists.

The historical material here is highly simplified, although the representations, as far as they go, are accurate.