Uploaded: 01 Jul 2017 (9 years ago) · Shared: 27 Dec 2016
Duration: 2:56:52
Video Description
In this captivating BBC documentary, renowned physicist Jim Al-Khalili journeys across the Middle East and Europe to uncover the astonishing scientific achievements of the medieval Islamic world. Between the 8th and 14th centuries, visionary scholars transformed global knowledge, laying the vital foundations for modern physics, mathematics, chemistry, and medicine. From the creation of algebra and algorithms to breakthroughs in optics and astronomy, this golden era established rigorous experimental methods that ultimately sparked the European Renaissance.
By exploring iconic figures like Ibn Sina and Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Khalili demonstrates how a culture driven by intellectual curiosity, reason, and faith cultivated a legacy that profoundly shaped modern civilization. This enlightening exploration bridges the rich intellectual heritage of Islam with global human progress, offering profound insights for followers of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish history seeking to understand the deep connection between early history, scientific inquiry, and spiritual pursuit.
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What is a Documentary?A documentary film or documentary is a non-fiction motion picture intended to document reality. This is primarily intended for instruction, education or maintaining a historical record.
Who are the BBC News?The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters are at Broadcasting House in Westminster, London and it is the world's oldest national broadcasting organisation and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees. It employs over 20,950 staff in total.
What is Science?Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. The earliest roots of science can be traced to the works of Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, whose contributions entered and shaped Greek natural philosophy of classical antiquity. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, knowledge of Greek science deteriorated in Western Europe during the Middle Ages but flourished in the Islamic Golden Age. Modern science is typically divided into three major branches that consist of the natural sciences (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics), which study nature in the broadest sense; the social sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology, economics), which study individuals and societies; and the formal sciences (e.g. mathematics, logic, theoretical computer science), which study abstract concepts.
What is Islam?One of the major religions of the world, Islam literally translates to "submission," as a follower of Islam (Muslims) devotes their life to that of their God. The religion began with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century. The theology of Islam is based on the Qur'an, which was given to Muhammad by God. Some of the major fundamental principles of Islam include the Five Pillars, which hope to unite all Muslims into a community. Two different factions of Muslims exist - the majority are known as Sunni, with a small percentage known as Shi'a - both predominantly reside throughout the Middle East. Muhammad died in 632 AD and the religion of Islam formally started after his death. The Quran was formally compiled and finalised in 650 AD, prior to which it was 'memorised' and written across many parchments.
