Arabic Astronomical and Astrological Sciences in Latin Translation

Arabic Astronomical and Astrological Sciences in Latin Translation Synopsis

This book offers a comprehensive examination of the transmission of Arabic scientific knowledge, especially in astronomy and astrology, to Latin-speaking Europe. This bibliography aims to present existing translations, manuscripts, and printed editions of significant Arabic works and outlines the progress and remaining gaps in understanding how medieval scholars engaged with and interpreted Arabic science.

The work draws on foundational efforts, including Sarton's Introduction to the History of Science, Thorndike's History of Magic and Experimental Science, and Brockelmann's bibliographies, extending these by closely analyzing manuscripts and translations that were pivotal in the transmission of astronomical and astrological knowledge. The bibliography meticulously classifies texts by author, noting multiple versions and sometimes contested attributions, while providing details such as incipits, explicits, and dedications to aid identification and comparison.

Focusing on Latin translations, the work underscores how figures like Gerard of Cremona and John of Seville contributed to medieval scholarship by rendering Arabic texts accessible, often improving on or modifying the originals to fit Western scholastic paradigms. It addresses critical methodological concerns, such as inconsistencies in manuscript catalogs and the challenges posed by anonymous or erroneously attributed works. Ultimately, this bibliography serves as a valuable tool for further research, laying groundwork for future philological studies on the evolution of scientific thought from the Islamic world to medieval Europe.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1955.