Studies in Medieval Islamic Technology: From Philo to al-Jazari – from Alexandria to Diyar Bakr (Variorum Collected Studies) - Hardcover

Hill, Donald R.

9780860786061: Studies in Medieval Islamic Technology: From Philo to al-Jazari – from Alexandria to Diyar Bakr (Variorum Collected Studies)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0860786064 ISBN 13: 9780860786061

Publisher: Routledge, 1998

These studies represent the major contributions to the history of Islamic technology during the second half of the 20th century beside Donald Hill’s separate publications on the mechanical devices of Pseudo-Apollonios, the Banu Musa and al-Jazari. A gifted linguist who was trained as a historian of Islamic civilisation, and also a professional engineer, Hill achieved his goal of setting his subject on a solid basis. The papers reprinted here include his early studies of the trebuchet and the camel and horse, several overviews of different aspects of Islamic technology, articles on specific topics such as the Cairo Nilometer and al-Biruni’s geared luni-solar device, and the first notice of an extremely important Andalusian treatise on mechanical devices discovered in 1975.

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Review:

'For those interested in Islamic technology and engineering there is one person whose name is synonymous with research in this field...This volume not only gives due prominence to Hill's rich work, but will also serve as a useful tool for anybody interested in technology and engineering and facilitate access to an important aspect of the Islamic civilization.' Archives Internationales d'Histoire des Sciences, Vol. 49, No. 2, No. 142 'Besides being a precious testimony ot the multifaceted work of a major historian of Islamic technology, these articles can be recommended to anybody interested in the history of medieval science and technology.' Mesa Bulletin '... this fine collection of articles should enrich the education of anyone who has the slightest interest in issues dealing with the history of technology from ancient times to the Renaissance.' Technology and Culture

Synopsis:

Islamic technology - general: Islamic fine technology and its influence on the development of European horology; medieval Arabic mechanical technology; from Philo to al-Jazari; Arabic fine technology and its influence on European mechanical engineering; Arabic mechanical engineering - survey of the historical sources; information on technology in the works of Muslim geographers; mining technology; hydraulic machines. Greek technology: les oeuvres de Heron et leur contexte historique; construction of a flaunting machine by Apollonius the Carpenter. Islamic technology - specific: the nilometer; the Banu Musa and their "Book of ingenious devices"; Qusta Ibn Luga al-Biruni's mechanical calendar; al-Jazari; notice of an important al-Jazari manuscript. technology in Andalusia: a treatise on machine by Ibn Mu adh Abu Abdallah al-Jayyani; Andalusian technology. Technology and war: Trebuchet; the camel and the horse and the early Arab conquests.

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