The Orientalists' Stance Towards Arabic Sciences (Especially Arabic Astronomy)
Duaa Abdullah, Jasem Hamoud
TL;DR
Problem: The paper investigates the stance of Orientalists toward Arabic sciences and the extent of Arab astronomy's influence on Western science. Approach: It uses a historical retrospective to trace transmission pathways, including $Zı̄j$-tables and the Toledo/Alfonsine tables, and to analyze roles of key scholars and translators. Findings: Arab astronomers preserved, refined, and transmitted astronomical knowledge to Europe, and Orientalists documented these exchanges, though interpretations were shaped by political contexts. Significance: The work clarifies East–West scientific exchange and argues for recognizing Arabic contributions to modern astronomy and for closer collaboration among historians to accurately map this heritage.
Abstract
In this paper, we highlight the influence of Arab/Islamic civilization in the field of the history of astronomy on European historians. We also aim to elucidate the stance of Orientalists toward the study of Arab sciences and to clarify their orientations, with a particular focus on astronomy, while revealing the significant role played by Arab scholars in this domain and the impact of their contributions-especially astronomical tables (zij)-on Western astronomers. Furthermore, we have clarified the mechanisms of transmission of Arab sciences, particularly astronomy, from Arab scholars to Western scholars, and the role of Arab astronomers in Western civilization. In addition, we address the contributions of Arab scholars to the development of astronomy and the perspective of Orientalists, particularly David King, regarding this matter. We also underscore the importance of Orientalists' works in analyzing Arab/Islamic scholarly output, identifying its influence on the West in the field of astronomy, and demonstrating how Western scholars benefited from translations of Arabic books in this discipline. In this paper, we adopt the historical retrieval methodology, by referencing previously documented astronomical information and contributions, with an emphasis on the processes of transmission of these sciences from the Arabs to the West.