A Glance at the Scientific Heritage of Muslims in Spain

The greater part of Spain, or Andalusia, was part of the Muslim World for 800 years. The prosperity and spread of Islamic culture and civilization in Spain had turned this land into one of the most brilliant scientific centers of the world that shone brightly all over Europe. Contrary to some other Islamic regions such as Maghrib al-Aghsa, or the Distant West, Andalusia was not inclined to isolate itself from the central parts of the Muslim World. After the reinforcement of their rule, the rulers of Andalusia did their best to join their culture and civilization with the scientific traditions of the Muslim East the result of which was the spread of knowledge and science in Spain, in particular since the 4th century A.H. onward. This paper deals with a number of scientific progresses and activities of Spanish Muslims in astronomy, mathematics, botany and medicine shedding light on their share in the advancement and spread of these sciences throughout the Muslim World and elsewhere.