This course will examine the intellectual legacy of the sciences in the Islamic world. Premodern Muslims cultivated various dimensions of what are today understood as the "hard sciences," including physics, mathematics, biology, and chemistry. In addition to exploring Islamic contributions to these fields during the classical period, known according to some sources as the "Golden Age of Islamic Science," we will explore Islamic medicine and medical theories, astronomy and astrological works (including tools used for astronomical observation), and the sciences of optics and alchemy. We will chart the development of these sciences while looking at the broader cultivation of scientific knowledge in Islamic societies, including the establishment of scientific institutions such as universities, observatories, hospitals, and pharmacies. |