Science and Islam

Webquest Visual Aides

Astrolabes

• The curved lines represent the beginning and end times for afternoon prayer

Geared Astrolabes

• The mechanical clock owes it development, in part, to the geared astrolabe

• The gearings around the revolutions of the sun were instrumental in developing the lunar calendar used by Muslims

Qibla Indicator

• The purpose of the qibla indicator was to help Muslims find the direction of Mecca

• These were essential for people who often travelled such as merchants

Qibla Indicator & Horizontal Pin-Gnomon Dial

• Unlike the previous device, this instrument gave Muslim the exact location of Mecca based on the location of 32 towns

Seeking Mecca

• Some qibla indicators included towns in North Africa and their relation to Mecca’s location

From Baghdad to Damascus

• Some early astrolabes included star pointers which were designed in the style of a dagger

William Laud

• Some Europeans owned Astrolabes. This Astrolabe was owned by William Luad, Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of Oxford University in the early 17th century

• Thus, Muslim advances in math and science were passed onto the West

Sources

• http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/scienceislam/index.php