Muslims achievements

Science and Philosophy

The empires of the Islamic world contributed to the achievements of Islamic culture.

Muslim scholars made advances in astronomy, geography, math, and science. Scholars at

Baghdad and Córdoba translated many ancient writings on these subjects into Arabic.

Having a common language helped scholars throughout the Islamic world share what

they learned with each other.

Astronomy

Many Muslim cities had observatories where people could study the sun, moon, and stars.

This study of astronomy helped scientists to better understand time and clockmaking.

Muslim scientists also improved the astrolabe, which the Greeks had invented to chart the

position of the stars. Arab scholars used the astrolabe to figure out their location on Earth.

Geography

Studying astronomy also helped Muslims explore the world. As people learned to use the

stars to calculate time and location, merchants and explorers began to travel widely.

explorer

help travelers, Muslim geographers made more accurate maps than were available before,

and developed better ways of calculating distances.

TheIbn Battutah traveled to Africa, India, China, and Spain in the 1320s. To

Math

Muslim scholars also made advances in mathematics. In the 800s they combined the

Indian number system, including the use of zero, with the Greek science of mathematics.

A Muslim mathematician used these ideas to write two important books. One laid the

foundation for modern algebra. The other explained the new number system. When his

works reached Europe, Europeans called the new numbers “Arabic” numerals.

Medicine

Muslims may have made their greatest advances in medicine. They combined Greek and

Indian knowledge with discoveries of their own. Muslim doctors started the first

pharmacy school to teach people how to make medicine. A doctor in Baghdad discovered

how to treat smallpox. Another doctor, known in the West as Avicenna (av-uh-SEN-uh),

wrote a medical encyclopedia. It was used throughout Europe until the 1600s and is one

of the most famous books in the history of medicine.

Philosophy

Many Muslim doctors and scientists studied the ancient Greek philosophy of rational

thought.

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Others focused on spiritual issues, leading to a movement called Sufism.