Free E-Book: Islamic Mathematics and Mathematicians

Excerpt:

The torch of ancient learning passed first to one of the invading groups
that helped bring down the Eastern Empire. Within a century of Muhammad’s
conquest of Mecca, Islamic armies conquered lands from northern
Africa, southern Europe, through the Middle East and east up to
India. The empire was immense, rivaling that of Rome itself. Though
the Arabs initially focused on conquest, nonetheless to them ancient
science became precious treasure. The Qur’an, the sacred book of Islam,
praised medicine as an art close to God. Astronomy and astrology
were believed to be a pathway to discover God’s will. Within a century
of that the Caliphate split up into several parts. The eastern segment,
under the Abbasid caliphs, became a center of growth, of luxury, and
of peace. In 766 the caliph al-Mansur founded his capitol in Baghdad
and the caliph Harun al-Rashid, established a library. The stage was
set for his successor, Al-Ma’mum.

Islamic Mathematics and Mathematicians