Astronomy and Cosmology
Medieval astronomers inherited a geocentric model of the universe, where Earth was at the center, based on Ptolemy’s Almagest. Yet, this was far from a static dogma. Islamic astronomers such as Al-Battani and Al-Zarqali refined observational techniques, improving planetary models and calculating more accurate solar and lunar motions. Later European scholars like Nicole Oresme began questioning Aristotelian physics and the nature of the cosmos, setting the stage for the heliocentric revolution.
Medicine and Anatomy
Medical knowledge in the Middle Ages was a blend of ancient theories and empirical observations. The works of Galen and Hippocrates were central, but medieval doctors, especially in the Islamic world with figures like Avicenna (Ibn Sina), expanded on these with new understandings of anatomy, pharmacology, and diagnosis. The Canon of Medicine by Avicenna became a standard medical text in Europe for centuries.
In Europe, medical schools in Salerno and Montpellier became renowned centers for teaching medicine. Physicians learned about the four humors theory but also began employing more practical approaches, including surgery and the use of herbal remedies.
Mathematics and Optics
Mathematics flourished with the introduction of Arabic numerals, including zero, to Europe through translations of texts by Al-Khwarizmi, the father of algebra. This numeral system replaced cumbersome Roman numerals and revolutionized calculation, commerce, and engineering.
Optics was another area of vibrant study. Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) made pioneering contributions to the understanding of light, vision, and the camera obscura effect. His work laid the groundwork for modern optics and experimental science methods based on observation and hypothesis testing. shutdown123