TTC Video The History and Achievements of The Islamic Golden Age

Lecturer: Eamonn Gearon

Advancements in mathematics, including the birth of algebra and new insights into geometry and trigonometry.
The origins of the scientific method, along with the development of chemistry, physics, and astronomy as discrete fields of inquiry.
The invention of the modern “teaching hospital” and a medical encyclopedia that served Europe for the next 600 years.
Meet the People Who Revolutionized the World

Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who established the House of Wisdom and was later immortalized in Arabian Nights
Al-Jahiz, an Arabic writer who discussed evolution a thousand years before Darwin
Iman al-Bukhari, who sifted through hundreds of thousands of alleged sayings from Muhammad and compiled the official hadith
Moses Maimonides, one of the greatest Talmudic scholars of all time
Al-Jazari, the so-called “father of robotics” who lived nearly fifteen hundred years before the computer age
Ibn Sina-also known as Avicenna-one of the world’s most influential thinkers and one of the founders of modern medicine

In studying these astonishing individuals, you’ll get a glimpse at another side of history that has been often overlooked. While many of these names may be unfamiliar to Western audiences, their impact continues into our world today-from the all the benefits of the Scientific Revolution down to the humble three-course meal popularized by a trendsetting cook and musician named Ziryab.

Unlock the Achievements of the Golden Age

Meet al-Khwarizmi, who built on the works of the Greeks and Babylonians to formalize algebra as its own discipline.
Explore the world’s first teaching hospitals and encounter several foundational texts on medicine and medical ethics.
Study with al-Haytham, whose revolutionary book on optics offered the first modern insight into how light and vision interact.
Discover the delightful inventions of the Banu Masa, including automatic drinking fountains and a steam-powered flute.
Tour the rich architecture of the Muslim world, from mosques to military arches to the hanging gardens of the Alhambra and the Taj Mahal.

Finally, no discussion of the Golden Age’s achievements would be complete without a mention of the tension between faith and reason. You’ll encounter several philosophers who wrestle with the age-old question and consider how they resolve the dilemma-and how thinkers such as Ibn Sina influenced later theologians in all three Abrahamic faiths.

A Sumptuous Feast of Insights