The Islamic Golden Age
The navigational innovations during the Islamic Golden Age were not only the effect of the many scientific innovations of that time, but the increased connectivity among different societies allowed technology to advance even further. Whether it was improved maps or the widespread use of the compass, this time fostered many crucial inventions in navigational history. Additionally, many important historical navigators came from this time. One of these men was Piri Reis, the author of the Kitab-i-Bahriye, which was the first comprehensive collections of maps of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, and one of the first accurate world maps. Finally, The spread of the Islamic empire caused many great non-Arab navigators to expand the Golden Age’s
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innovation. Perhaps the most important of these men was Zheng He, a Chinese-Muslim Admiral. His power helped to link Chinese and Arab civilizations, leading to even more innovations in the future. Overall, the Islamic Golden Age fostered great scientific innovation, especially in the field of navigation. The Islamic Golden Age was perhaps the greatest time for inventors and scientists before the modern era. It allowed many great innovations to come into existence, with some of the greatest being related to navigation. During this time, great innovations in map making were made. Before the the modern era, maps could not be made from satellites, or even from a bird’s eye view; Maps had to be made from traveler’s accounts of land features. Maps had been around for thousands of years; unfortunately, many of those maps were highly inaccurate compared to modern maps. As more Muslims began to travel the world, more information began to return about the land, allowing for more detailed and accurate maps to be made. Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, the only other civilization known to be traveling such distances as the Muslims were the Vikings. Islamic Maps were key in allowing the European explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries to complete their voyages. Along with maps, another crucial navigational instrument was improved: the compass. Although the compass was invented by the Chinese, many historians believe that Islamic civilization was responsible for introducing it to Europe. Additionally, the first compasses made by the Chinese, which were “water compasses”, were very different from the common conception of what a compass looks like. These were a magnetized needle that was placed into water and would indicate which direction north and south were. Documents such as a treatise written by Egyptian astronomer Ibn Simʿūn mentions a dry compass that was used to indicate the direction of Mecca for Muslims to pray to. Overall, The Islamic Golden Age fostered a time of great innovations, especially in the field of Navigation. Piri Reis, an Ottoman admiral who lived from around 1465 to 1553 was perhaps the most important Islamic navigator. His book, the Kitab-i-Bahriye was the first fully comprehensive Manuel of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Containing over 200 detailed navigational charts, this book was a guide for mariners and paved the way for modern sea travel. Additionally he created what is popularly known as the Piri Reis map, which is one of the first somewhat accurate world maps ever made, although only one third, largely showing South America and Africa is known to survive today. The information used to make the map was from compiled military intelligence, with the depiction of South America largely based on maps made by Christopher Columbus. This map also contains content that cannot be explained. At the bottom of the map is an illustration of a continent that appears to be Antarctica. Although it had been hypothesized by explorers that this continent existed for many years, there is no evidence to suggest that the continent had been visited by humans prior to the 19th century. This raises the question, did Piri Reis or someone else discover Antartica in the 16th century, or was it just his speculation? Whatever the answer, it does provide interesting insight of the ability of scholars at the time. The Kitab-i Bahriye on the other hand, is a collection of highly detailed maps of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. These maps gave sailors great details of the Mediterranean coast, islands, and gave places to shelter during storms. This book was one of the most important, if not the most important collection of maps ever made. Piri Reis made a number of important contributions to the advancement of navigation. The vast reach of the Islamic Empire throughout the world allowed for many innovations to come from non Arabs.
The most important of these people is Zheng He, who was a Chinese Admiral. Zheng He was a devout Muslim born in Mongolia and grew up speaking both Arabic and Chinese. He was taken at a young age by the Chinese Ming Dynasty during an invasion,was made a Eunuch, and served in the Imperial palace. Throughout his life, he traveled over 31,000 miles, and helped to link Chinese and Arab Civilization. Through loyal service, he rose through the ranks of the Chinese navy, eventually reaching the position of Admiral. During his time as Admiral he led seven “Treasure Ship” Voyages between 1405 and 1433 CE, where the goal of the expedition was to obtain valuable goods, hence the name. The Ships in the Treasure fleet were massive, with Zheng He writing that “sixty two of the largest ships were 440 feet long”. Each of these massive ships was manned by a crew of approximately 500 men, ranging from sailors, doctors and soldiers to artisans and meteorologists. His fourth voyage had a total of 30,000 men. Additionally, a map made by Zheng He was discovered recently which dates back to 1418 CE. This map shows a rendition of the entire world, including the Americas. This map has caused a lot of controversy because of this, and has led many historians to believe that the New world was in fact discovered and mapped by the Chinese before it was discovered by Christopher Columbus. While there is not currently sufficient proof to say whether or not this theory is true, it has raised many questions about common beliefs about the new worlds discovery. Zheng He, while he was not Arab, was a muslim who throughout his many voyages allowed many trade routes to form leading to both scientific discovery, and to increased economic prosperity for both China and The Islamic
Empire. The Islamic Golden age was key in allowing many great navigational innovations to take place. The great improvement in maps of the time, and the improvement of the compass are just two of the many inventions of the time. Along with those inventions, many great navigators came from this period. One of the most notable of these men is Piri Reis, who made a remarkably accurate world map, and compiled many maps of the Mediterranean and the Aegean into one book. Along with Reis, the Chinese Muslim Zheng He helped to connect Islam with China and many other parts of the world. Overall, the navigational innovations that took place during the Islamic Golden Age as a result of the prosperity of the time further contributed to the scientific atmosphere and the time’s overall prosperity.
innovation. Perhaps the most important of these men was Zheng He, a Chinese-Muslim Admiral. His power helped to link Chinese and Arab civilizations, leading to even more innovations in the future. Overall, the Islamic Golden Age fostered great scientific innovation, especially in the field of navigation. The Islamic Golden Age was perhaps the greatest time for inventors and scientists before the modern era. It allowed many great innovations to come into existence, with some of the greatest being related to navigation. During this time, great innovations in map making were made. Before the the modern era, maps could not be made from satellites, or even from a bird’s eye view; Maps had to be made from traveler’s accounts of land features. Maps had been around for thousands of years; unfortunately, many of those maps were highly inaccurate compared to modern maps. As more Muslims began to travel the world, more information began to return about the land, allowing for more detailed and accurate maps to be made. Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, the only other civilization known to be traveling such distances as the Muslims were the Vikings. Islamic Maps were key in allowing the European explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries to complete their voyages. Along with maps, another crucial navigational instrument was improved: the compass. Although the compass was invented by the Chinese, many historians believe that Islamic civilization was responsible for introducing it to Europe. Additionally, the first compasses made by the Chinese, which were “water compasses”, were very different from the common conception of what a compass looks like. These were a magnetized needle that was placed into water and would indicate which direction north and south were. Documents such as a treatise written by Egyptian astronomer Ibn Simʿūn mentions a dry compass that was used to indicate the direction of Mecca for Muslims to pray to. Overall, The Islamic Golden Age fostered a time of great innovations, especially in the field of Navigation. Piri Reis, an Ottoman admiral who lived from around 1465 to 1553 was perhaps the most important Islamic navigator. His book, the Kitab-i-Bahriye was the first fully comprehensive Manuel of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Containing over 200 detailed navigational charts, this book was a guide for mariners and paved the way for modern sea travel. Additionally he created what is popularly known as the Piri Reis map, which is one of the first somewhat accurate world maps ever made, although only one third, largely showing South America and Africa is known to survive today. The information used to make the map was from compiled military intelligence, with the depiction of South America largely based on maps made by Christopher Columbus. This map also contains content that cannot be explained. At the bottom of the map is an illustration of a continent that appears to be Antarctica. Although it had been hypothesized by explorers that this continent existed for many years, there is no evidence to suggest that the continent had been visited by humans prior to the 19th century. This raises the question, did Piri Reis or someone else discover Antartica in the 16th century, or was it just his speculation? Whatever the answer, it does provide interesting insight of the ability of scholars at the time. The Kitab-i Bahriye on the other hand, is a collection of highly detailed maps of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. These maps gave sailors great details of the Mediterranean coast, islands, and gave places to shelter during storms. This book was one of the most important, if not the most important collection of maps ever made. Piri Reis made a number of important contributions to the advancement of navigation. The vast reach of the Islamic Empire throughout the world allowed for many innovations to come from non Arabs.
The most important of these people is Zheng He, who was a Chinese Admiral. Zheng He was a devout Muslim born in Mongolia and grew up speaking both Arabic and Chinese. He was taken at a young age by the Chinese Ming Dynasty during an invasion,was made a Eunuch, and served in the Imperial palace. Throughout his life, he traveled over 31,000 miles, and helped to link Chinese and Arab Civilization. Through loyal service, he rose through the ranks of the Chinese navy, eventually reaching the position of Admiral. During his time as Admiral he led seven “Treasure Ship” Voyages between 1405 and 1433 CE, where the goal of the expedition was to obtain valuable goods, hence the name. The Ships in the Treasure fleet were massive, with Zheng He writing that “sixty two of the largest ships were 440 feet long”. Each of these massive ships was manned by a crew of approximately 500 men, ranging from sailors, doctors and soldiers to artisans and meteorologists. His fourth voyage had a total of 30,000 men. Additionally, a map made by Zheng He was discovered recently which dates back to 1418 CE. This map shows a rendition of the entire world, including the Americas. This map has caused a lot of controversy because of this, and has led many historians to believe that the New world was in fact discovered and mapped by the Chinese before it was discovered by Christopher Columbus. While there is not currently sufficient proof to say whether or not this theory is true, it has raised many questions about common beliefs about the new worlds discovery. Zheng He, while he was not Arab, was a muslim who throughout his many voyages allowed many trade routes to form leading to both scientific discovery, and to increased economic prosperity for both China and The Islamic
Empire. The Islamic Golden age was key in allowing many great navigational innovations to take place. The great improvement in maps of the time, and the improvement of the compass are just two of the many inventions of the time. Along with those inventions, many great navigators came from this period. One of the most notable of these men is Piri Reis, who made a remarkably accurate world map, and compiled many maps of the Mediterranean and the Aegean into one book. Along with Reis, the Chinese Muslim Zheng He helped to connect Islam with China and many other parts of the world. Overall, the navigational innovations that took place during the Islamic Golden Age as a result of the prosperity of the time further contributed to the scientific atmosphere and the time’s overall prosperity.