Ottoman Astronomers at work around Taqi al-Din at the Istanbul Observatory
Ala ad-Din Mansur-Shirazi (from Shahinshah-nama, Book of the King of Kings) c. 1574–1595
The instruments being used by these Muslim scholars are essentially those used in Europe at this time. Note in particular the quadrants and the planispheric astrolabe. Much of Greek astronomy was expanded and transmitted by the Muslim culture to the West. In the mid-16th century the two cultures shared a common science and shared tools/instruments, though science was soon to be largely suppressed in the Islamic world while being encouraged in Europe and America.
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- © R. Paselk
- Last modified 23 February 2015
