Science in Medieval Islam: An Illustrated Introduction

Rating:
Summary: The pictures alone can tell the story.
Review: I was fortunate to read this in manuscript and knew that it was something most readers would like because of the wonderful illustrations. Readers cannot find a better place to begin to understand the fantastic developments in the Islamic world at a time when Europe had lost most ancient knowledge. It will probably become a required book for most courses dealing with the Islamic and Arabic civilizations.

Rating:
Summary: Uncommonly Cool
Review: This is an extremely terrific introduction to an unfortunately little-known topic. In fifteen chapters and an epilogue, we are treated here to articulate, carefully crafted commentary and overviews of a myriad of medieval Islamic scientific, pseudo-scientific, and philosophical milieus. Turner presents us with chapters upon astronomy, medicine, geography, alchemy, and mathematics, among many other topics, as well as the Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian, etc. roots of the traditions surveyed. Each chapter includes intelligently selected material, which is oftentimes broken down into various subsections, for increased clarity and focus. One thing that the new reader of this book might want to be aware of is that the body of text in most chapters is literally only five to ten pages long. A lot of information is conveyed in the sections at the end of each chapter, which consist of beautiful (black and white) photographs and illustrations of various medieval islamic scientific instruments, observatories, learning academies, etc. Below the photographs are pithy, well-written commentaries upon the objects in the photographs. Don't skip over these commentaries -- they contain some of the best material in the book. Also watch for the helpful timeline in an appendix at the end, the glossary of unfamiliar Arabic vocabulary, and the very useful bibliography. Definitely take the time to scan through the bibliography, if you have any interest in pursuing further work in this area. It contains most of the classic works on this topic, and many lesser-known articles, books, etc.

Many people reading this may be interested in the historical background of Islam, or in the medieval period in and of itself. For people who come to this book from curiosity about how our classical heritage was preserved during the centuries between Rome and the Renaissance, (i.e., while the Islamic world was keeping the scholarly and scientific traditions alive, and Europe generally went to pieces), I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend "Scribes and Scholars: A Guide to the Transmission of Latin and Greek Literature," by L.D. Reynolds. The title tells you what that book is about, and it's very well done.

This book is very interesting, very well-researched, and beautifully presented. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Rating:
Summary: Uncommonly Cool
Review: This is an extremely terrific introduction to an unfortunately little-known topic. In fifteen chapters and an epilogue, we are treated here to articulate, carefully crafted commentary and overviews of a myriad of medieval Islamic scientific, pseudo-scientific, and philosophical milieus. Turner presents us with chapters upon astronomy, medicine, geography, alchemy, and mathematics, among many other topics, as well as the Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian, etc. roots of the traditions surveyed. Each chapter includes intelligently selected material, which is oftentimes broken down into various subsections, for increased clarity and focus. One thing that the new reader of this book might want to be aware of is that the body of text in most chapters is literally only five to ten pages long. A lot of information is conveyed in the sections at the end of each chapter, which consist of beautiful (black and white) photographs and illustrations of various medieval islamic scientific instruments, observatories, learning academies, etc. Below the photographs are pithy, well-written commentaries upon the objects in the photographs. Don't skip over these commentaries -- they contain some of the best material in the book. Also watch for the helpful timeline in an appendix at the end, the glossary of unfamiliar Arabic vocabulary, and the very useful bibliography. Definitely take the time to scan through the bibliography, if you have any interest in pursuing further work in this area. It contains most of the classic works on this topic, and many lesser-known articles, books, etc.

Many people reading this may be interested in the historical background of Islam, or in the medieval period in and of itself. For people who come to this book from curiosity about how our classical heritage was preserved during the centuries between Rome and the Renaissance, (i.e., while the Islamic world was keeping the scholarly and scientific traditions alive, and Europe generally went to pieces), I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend "Scribes and Scholars: A Guide to the Transmission of Latin and Greek Literature," by L.D. Reynolds. The title tells you what that book is about, and it's very well done.

This book is very interesting, very well-researched, and beautifully presented. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.