“His (Islamic astronomer al-Farghani) legacy also endures through the Italian writer and poet Dante (1265-1321), who derived most of the astronomical knowledge he included in his DIVINE COMEDY from the writings of al-Farghani (whom he referred to by his Latin name, Alfraganus).”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Jim Al-Khalili, the author highlights the enduring legacy of Islamic astronomer al-Farghani, particularly in the influence he had on the renowned Italian writer and poet Dante. It is noted that Dante derived much of his astronomical knowledge, which he incorporated into his work Divine Comedy, from the writings of al-Farghani, who was referred to by his Latin name Alfraganus. This connection between the two figures underscores the cross-cultural exchanges and transmission of knowledge that occurred during the medieval period, shaping the intellectual landscape of Europe.
Modern Relevance:
Dante's incorporation of astronomical knowledge from Islamic astronomer al-Farghani in his iconic work "The Divine Comedy" highlights the enduring impact of cross-cultural exchange and the influence of Islamic scholars on Western literature and science.
Influence of Islamic astronomer al-Farghani on Dante
“His (Islamic astronomer al-Farghani) legacy also endures through the Italian writer and poet Dante (1265-1321), who derived most of the astronomical knowledge he included in his Divine Comedy from the writings of al-Farghani (whom he referred to by his Latin name, Alfraganus).” - Jim Al-Khalili
Reflection Questions:
Upon learning about the influence of Islamic astronomer al-Farghani on the writings of Dante, consider the following questions:
- How does this connection between Islamic and European scholars challenge conventional narratives about the transmission of knowledge during the medieval period?
- In what ways does the incorporation of al-Farghani's work into the DIVINE COMEDY speak to the interconnectedness of different cultures and intellectual traditions?
- Reflect on the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the contributions of scholars from diverse backgrounds in shaping our understanding of the world.
Similar quotes
“It is not surprising that Ibn Sina is a national icon in Iran today, and one can find countless schools and hospitals named after him in many countries around the world. Indeed, his legacy stretches even further, for there is an 'Avicenna' crater on the moon, and in 1980 every member country of Unesco celebrated the thousand-year anniversary of Ibn Sina's birth. As a philosopher he is referred to as the Aristotle of Islam; as a physician he is known as the Galen of Islam.”
“Two of the most famous Baghdadi scholars, the philosopher Al-Kindi and the mathematician Al-Khawarizmi, were certainly the most influential in transmitting Hindu numerals to the Muslim world. Both wrote books on the subject during al-Ma'mun's reign, and it was their work that was translated into Latin and transmitted to the West, thus introducing Europeans to the decimal system, which was known in the Middle Ages only as Arabic numerals. But it would be many centuries before it was widely accepted in Europe. One reason for this was sociological: decimal numbers were considered for a long time as symbols of the evil Muslim foe.”
“Many historians regard him [Offa] as the most powerful Anglo-Saxon king before Alfred the Great. In the 780s he extended his power over most of Southern England. One of the most remarkable extantfrom King Offa's reign is a gold coin that is kept in the British Museum. On one side, it carries the inscription Offa Rex (Offa the King). But, turn it over and you are in for a surprise, for in badly copied Arabic are the words La Illaha Illa Allah ('There is no god but Allah alone'). This coin is a copy of an Abbasid dinarfrom the reign of Al-Mansur, dating to 773, and was most probably used by Anglo-Saxon traders. It would have been known even in Anglo-Saxon England that Islamic gold dinars were the most important coinage in the world at that time and Offa's coin looked enough like the original that it would have been readily accepted abroad.”
“For the early scholars of Islam, there would have been no conflict between religion and science. The early thinkers were quite clear abou their mission: the Qur'an required them to study alsamawat wal'arth (the skies and the earth) to find proof of their faith. The prophet himself had besought this discipline to seek knowledge 'from the cradle to the grave', no matter how far that search took them, for 'he who travels in search of knowledge, travels along Allah's path to paradise”
“... classical Arabic, being the language of the Qur'an, has not changed at all in fourteen centuries, making the writings of the early Islamic scholars as accessible today as they were then.”
“In fact, for a period stretching over seven hundred years, the international language of science was Arabic. For this was the language of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, and thus the official language of the vast Islamic Empire that, by the early eighth century CE, stretched from India to Spain.”