Episode 85 of SfS — Islamic and Hindu Astronomers of the Middle Ages — is now Live!
Hello all! This week’s episode is part of a new segment that is semi-related to the Indigenous Astronomers series. It takes a look at major contributions and innovations that came from non-Western astronomers-i.e., those who lived outside of Greece, Rome, or Europe. Specifically, this episode deals with the astronomical traditions of Arab, Persian, and Indian astronomers from the 5th to the 16th century. Regretably, this aspect of history is often downplayed or overlooked in Western circles.
Not only were these polymaths and scholars responsible for preserving knowledge from Classical Antiquity that had been lost to Europeans. They also expanded on it greatly and brought their own traditions to the table. Such notable figures include Aryabhata, Al Sijji, Al Biruni, Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazan), and Al-Biṭrūjī (Alpetragius), all of whom challenged Ptolemy’s geocentric model of the Universe generations before their European counterparts.
Alongside Classical Hellenic scholars like Aristarchus of Samos and Seleucus of Seleucia, their works would go on to inspire 16th-century Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus to develop his heliocentric model of the Universe. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that the birth of modern astronomy would not have been possible without the work and innovations brought by astronomers from the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia.
Check out the links below to learn more…
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Originally published at http://storiesbywilliams.com on October 28, 2024.
