Studies in Medieval Islamic Technology: From Philo to al-Jazari - from Alexandria to Diyar Bakr / Edition 1

by Donald R. Hill, David King

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780860786061
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/21/1998
Series:	Variorum Collected Studies
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.88(w) x 8.81(h) x (d)

About the Author

Donald R. Hill. Edited by David A. King, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University Germany

Table of Contents

Contents: Donald Routledge Hill (1922-1994);Donald Routledge Hill - publications; 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 engineering in the works of Muslim geographers; Mining technology; Hydraulic machines; Greek Technology: Les oevres de Héron et leur contexte historique; Construction of a fluting machine by Apollonius the Carpenter; Islamic Technology (Specific): The nilometer; The Banu Musa and their Book of Ingenious Devices; Qusta ibn Luqa; Al-Biruni’s Mechanical Calendar; Al-Jazari; Notice of an important al-Jazari manuscript; Technology in Andalusia: A treatise on machines by Ibn Mu’adh Abu ’Abdallah al-Jayyani; Andalusian technology; Technology and War: Trebuchets; The camel and the horse and the early Arab conquests; Indexes.

Editorial Reviews

'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

From the Publisher

Twenty articles by Hill (1922-94) represent some of his more important short accounts published 1973-95 on Islamic engineering in classical and medieval times. They include discussions of fine technology and its influence on the development of European horology, the historical sources for mechanical engineering, hydraulic machines, the construction of a fluting machine by Apollonius the carpenter, the Nilometer, the Banu Musa and their , Al- Jazari, Andalusian technology, trebuchets, and the camel and the horse and early Arab conquests. One of the articles is in French. All are reproduced from their original publication. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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