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Science and Islam

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.

For Baghdad-born Al-Khalili this is also a personal journey and on his travels he uncovers a diverse and outward-looking culture, fascinated by learning and obsessed with science. From the great mathematician Al-Khwarizmi, who did much to establish the mathematical tradition we now know as algebra, to Ibn Sina, a pioneer of early medicine whose Canon of Medicine was still in use as recently as the 19th century, he pieces together a remarkable story of the often-overlooked achievements of the early medieval Islamic scientists.

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  1. Delanoolson….u were there??

  2. lies it was all stole from rome science is not in islam rome had all that knowledge long before they started there crusade to kill peaple for there none belief

    • Rome? What has Rome ever documented that can be proven by modern science today? The Quran speaks about so many things that science is just now discovering. Look it up. Sadly, you don’t even know how to use proper English grammer nor do you know how to spell. What the hell is “peaple”? Such a topic wouldn’t even be worth debating with someone like you. You appear to have no more than a first grade education you douche bag!

  3. Alhamdulilah.

  4. Very interesting video, I enjoyed watching it.

  5. v. detailed & dedicated documentry. bravo.

  6. Very enlightening stuff 🙂