Islamic Advancements

While some historians argue than Islamic science is simply an extension of Greco-Roman science, the scientific advancements made by medieval Arabs were unique compared to their Greco-Roman ancestors and quite substantial compared to their European counterparts. The idea that Islamic science is simply a continuation of Greco-Roman science may come from the extensive translation efforts made from Islamic ruler Abbasid caliph al-Mamum in the ninth century. It is important to note that while a greater effort was placed in translation in Islamic science compared to European science during the Great Awakening, much of what scholars know today of Greco-Roman science comes from the translation efforts of Islamic scholars in Medieval ages. However, after those activities slowed in their momentum, new efforts were made to improve Greco-Roman science, and sometimes create more
One of the best illustrations of the evolution of Islamic science in the golden age is the study of astronomy- specifically the improvements and pronounced modifications of Ptolemy’s model of the solar system. At first, Ptolemy’s model of the solar system worked well enough, and Islamic scientists simply wanted to make slight improvements to the accuracy of its predictions and create an accurate mathematical model of this system. However, Islamic scientists realized that the mathematics Ptolemy used was not correct. In a journal article on the subject, George Sailba notes, “…unlike the traditional view, in which medieval Islamic civilization accepted the body of Greek astronomical thought as the unalloyed truth, the Islamic astronomers found much that was objectionable and themselves attempted to forge a new astronomy,” (Saliba, 1). Mathematical advancements were made by Islamic scientist al-Tulsi, which were later used by Copernicus himself when creating the heliocentric model of the solar