Remembering the Language of History and Science: When the World Spoke Arabic
 | Large image | Figure 1: Professor Jim Al-Khalili, British Theoretical Nuclear Physicist, Academic, Author and Broadcaster, browsing through the book 1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritage in our World (FSTC, 2006) (Source). |
The programme on Science and Islam is presented by Jim Al-Khalili, a well known scientist himself. It is a one hour program following Rageh Omaar's documentary; it will be repeated same night on 5 January 2009 and after midnight. The show deals more specifically with the Islamic contribution to the progress of science and technology and shows how the Islamic world increased scientific knowledge between the 8th and 14th centuries. Physicist Jim Al-Khalili travels through Syria, Iran, Tunisia and Spain to tell the story of the great leap in scientific knowledge that took place in the Islamic world between the 8th and 14th centuries. Its legacy is tangible, with terms like algebra, algorithm and alkali all being Arabic in origin and at the very heart of modern science –there would be no modern mathematics or physics without algebra, no computers without algorithms and no chemistry without alkalis.  | Large image | Figure 2: Poster of the BBC Four series Science and Islam presented by Jim Al-Khalili. |
When the Islamic Empire established itself, from the 7th century CE onwards, its rulers made gathering the world's knowledge a top priority. Islamic scholars travelled the known world in search of mathematical, medical, astronomical and philosophical texts. By the 8th and 9th centuries, the ruling elite of Baghdad organised regular debates between scholars. At these vibrant events, all kinds of ideas, often from other civilisations and cultural traditions, were debated, discussed and even radically improved. The scientific legacy of this extraordinary time lives on. Terms like algebra, algorithm and alkali, are all Arabic in origin and are at the heart of modern science. The story thus told pieced together a remarkable story of the often-overlooked achievements of the early medieval Islamic scientists. Broadcasts: - 05 Jan 2009 at 21:00: BBC Four
- 05 Jan 2009 at 23:00: BBC Four
- 06 Jan 2009 at 03:00 : BBC Four
- 06 Jan 2009 at 19:30 : BBC Four
- 06 Jan 2009 at 20:00 : BBC HD
- 07 Jan 2009 at 00:45 : BBC Four
 | Large image | Figure 3: Rageh Omaar, British television news presenter and writer, in Granada, Spain (© BBC) (Source). |
In this documentary, Rageh Omaar seeks to reconstruct the hidden story of Europe's Islamic past and looks back to a golden age when European civilisation was enriched by Islamic learning. Beginning in Spain, where the brilliant Andalusian civilisation flourished, Rageh travels across medieval Muslim Europe to reveal the vibrant civilisation that Muslims brought to the West. This evocative film brings to life a time when emirs and caliphs dominated Spain and Sicily and Islamic scholarship swept into the major cities of Europe. His journey reveals the debt owed to Islam for its vital contribution to the European Renaissance. Broadcasts: - 05 Jan 2009 at 20:30: BBC Four
- 06 Jan 2009 at 02:30: BBC Four
 | Large image | Figure 4: 3D Construction of the Third Water Raising Device. |
BBC Links External Links Further reading Easily read articles published on www.MuslimHeritage.com on Islam and science and the Islamic scientific tradition.
by: FSTC Limited, Thu 01 January, 2009
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