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Al-Khwarizmi

In a series about key thinkers and achievements from the Islamic Golden Age, Iraqi-born scientist Jim Al-Khalili explores the legacy of mathematician and astronomer al-Khwarizmi.

In a major series for Radio 3, we rediscover some of the key thinkers and achievements from the Islamic Golden Age. The period ranges from 750 to 1258 CE and over twenty episodes, we'll hear about architecture, invention, medicine, mathematics, innovation and philosophy.

In today's essay, Iraqi-born scientist, writer and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili tells us about the legacy of al-Khwarizmi. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was a Persian mathematician, astronomer, astrologer geographer and a scholar in the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. The House of Wisdom was a renowned centre of scientific research and teaching in his time - attracting some of the greatest minds of the Islamic Golden Age. Al-Khwarizmi was born in Persia around 780 and was one of the learned men who worked in the House of Wisdom under the leadership of Caliph al-Mamun, the son of the caliph Harun al-Rashid, who was made famous in the Arabian Nights.

Producer: Mohini Patel.

Available now

15 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Tue 3 Dec 2013 22:45
  • Wed 5 Aug 2015 22:00

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Download The Essay

Download The Essay

Download all the episodes from the series and listen at your leisure.

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