How did Islamic scholars build upon the knowledge and advancements of Greek scholars? (12 pts, urgent)

History · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

Islamic scholars played a crucial role in preserving, translating, and expanding upon the knowledge and advancements of Greek scholars during the Islamic Golden Age, which lasted roughly from the 8th to the 14th century. Here are several ways in which Islamic scholars contributed to the development and dissemination of Greek knowledge:

1. Translation Movement:

  • Islamic scholars engaged in a significant translation movement, translating a vast corpus of Greek texts into Arabic. This effort included works of philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, and medical texts of Hippocrates and Galen. These translations preserved and transmitted the intellectual heritage of Greece to the Islamic world.

2. Commentaries and Elaborations:

  • Islamic scholars provided extensive commentaries and elaborations on Greek works. Philosophers such as Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Averroes (Ibn Rushd) wrote commentaries on Aristotle, expanding on and sometimes challenging the ideas presented in the original Greek texts.

3. Integration with Islamic Thought:

  • Rather than simply adopting Greek knowledge wholesale, Islamic scholars integrated it with their own intellectual traditions. They harmonized Greek philosophy, particularly that of Aristotle, with Islamic theology, creating a synthesis known as "Islamic Aristotelianism."

4. Advancements in Medicine:

  • Building upon the works of Greek physicians like Hippocrates and Galen, Islamic scholars, such as Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Al-Razi (Rhazes), made significant advancements in medicine. They not only preserved Greek medical knowledge but also expanded it, contributing new insights and discoveries.

5. Mathematics and Astronomy:

  • Islamic scholars made important contributions to mathematics and astronomy. They absorbed Greek mathematical knowledge, including the works of Euclid and Ptolemy, and expanded upon it. Al-Khwarizmi, for example, played a key role in introducing Indian numerical systems and algebra to the Islamic world.

6. Preservation of Manuscripts:

  • Islamic scholars preserved Greek manuscripts at a time when much of Europe was experiencing a decline in learning. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad, for instance, became a center for intellectual pursuits, housing many Greek and Roman texts.

7. Scientific Method:

  • Islamic scholars laid the groundwork for the scientific method. The emphasis on observation, experimentation, and systematic inquiry, which are fundamental to the scientific method, can be traced back to the works of Muslim scientists who built upon Greek foundations.

In summary, Islamic scholars not only preserved the knowledge of Greek thinkers but also expanded upon it, synthesized it with Islamic thought, and made significant contributions to various fields. This transmission and enrichment of knowledge played a pivotal role in the later Renaissance in Europe, as many Greek texts, along with the commentaries and advancements by Islamic scholars, were later reintroduced to the Western world.