Preface

Preface
By Professor Mohamed El-Gomati

Professor Mohamed El-Gomati

The content of many schools’ curricula and popular books of science rarely mention any scientific or technological progress between the fall of the Roman Empire and the European Renaissance. Yet reliable history books tell us of a period lasting nearly 1000 years after 600 CE, where a vast amount of scientific and intellectual activity took place in the Muslim world. Unfortunately, this public amnesia has led to a polarised world. We, at the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC), recognise a need for a new language based on the cultural roots of science to discover connections between cultures to foster social cohesion and inter-cultural respect. Looking at world history through the lens of science, we see examples of cooperation, homage and respect throughout humanity. FSTC endeavours to popularize the notion that the development of science, technology and medicine benefitted from all cultures. This is exemplified by the famous saying of Sir Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”.


The ‘1001 Inventions’ exhibition and accompanying literature and films have been met with resounding

 

success and popularity. FSTC aims to build on this success by embarking upon a new initiative focusing on the history of medicine and healthcare. This book is one of a number of publications which will accompany a world touring interactive exhibition entitled ‘1001 Cures’.


Whilst publishing these volumes, FSTC decided to implement a historiographical approach that is informed by modern scholarship. That is why Professor Peter E. Pormann was asked to assemble a group of historians of medicine to write the various chapters of this book and to be its editor.


Our publishing policy which guides our new publications seeks to:


• Understand past societies on their own terms, and not view them through the lens of modern concerns.

• Rely on the expert opinions of modern professional historians of science, technology and medicine in the generation of FSTC Ltd content, before being passed onto media producers and science related public writers.


• Further explore the scientific cultural interactions between Muslim, Indian and Chinese civilisations, and bring to the public domain informative stories following the similar outreach initiatives to those about interactions with the Greek civilisation.


FSTC aims to bring the best scholarship to a much wider audience, and thus achieve two main goals:


1. To demonstrate that the scientific tradition of non- European civilisations is both interesting in its own right and innovative in numerous ways.

2. To demonstrate that this heritage is very much part of the medieval legacy of ‘Western’ science as it developed in the universities of Europe during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period.


This volume highlights instances where the medieval Islamic tradition, drawing on Greek ideas, developed new applications, and progressed methodologically and epistemologically.


FSTC is very pleased to present this volume to public readers.

 

We are grateful to Healthcare Development Holdings for sponsoring the project, Professor Peter E Pormann for editing the book, the authors of the chapters, and the 1001 Inventions team for managing the project.



For and on behalf of the Board of FSTC


Mohamed El-Gomati, OBE

Chairman of the Board

Professor (Emeritus) of Electron Optics University of York, UK


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