Transmission of Sciences

The Muslims were thepioneers of sciencesandartsduring mediaeval times
and formed the necessary link between the ancients and the moderns.
Their light of learning dispelled the gloom that had enveloped Europe.
Spain
Moorish Spainwas the main source from which the scientific knowledge
of the Muslims and their great achievements were transmitted to
France, Germany and England. The Spanish universities
ofCordova,SevilleandGranadawere thronged with Christian and Jewish
students who learnt science from the Muslim scientists and who then
popularized them in their native lands.
Sicily
Another source for the transmission of Muslim scientific knowledge
wasSicily, where during the reign of Muslim kings and even afterwards
a large number of scientific works were translated from Arabic into
Latin. The most prominent translators who translated Muslims works
from Arabic into European languages wereGerard of Cremona,Adelard of
Bath,Roger Bacon and Robert Chester.
Writing in his celebrated workMoors in Spain, Stanley Lane Poole says,
"For nearly eight centuries under the Mohammadans rulers, Spain set
out to all Europe a shining example of a civilized and enlightened
State--Arts, literature and science prospered as they prospered
nowhere in Europe".
Muslim Spain
Students flocked from France, Germany and England to drink from the
fountain of learning which flowed down in the cities of Moors. The
surgeons and doctors ofAndalusiawere in the van of science; women
wereencouragedto serious study and thelady doctorwas not always
unknown among the people of Cordova.
Mathematics, astronomy and botany, history, philosophy and
jurisprudence, were to be mastered in Spain, and Spain alone. The
practical work of the field, the scientific methods ofirrigation,
thearts of fortificationandshipbuilding, of the highest and most
elaborate products of theloom, thegraveland thehammer, thepotter's
wheelandmason's trowel, were brought to perfection by the Spanish
Moors. Whatever makes a kingdom great and prosperous, whatever tends
to refinement and civilization was found inMuslim Spain.
The students flocked to Spanish cities from all parts of Europe to be
infused with the light of learning which lit up Moorish Spain. Another
western historian writes, "The light of these universities shone far
beyond the Muslim world, and drew students to them from east and
west".
At Cordova in particular there were a number of Christian students,
and the influence of Arab philosophy coming by way of Spain upon
universities ofParis,Oxfordand North Italy and upon western Europe
thought generally, was very considerable indeed. The book copying
industry flourished atAlexandria,Damascus,CairoandBaghdadand about the
year970, there were 27 free schools open in Cordova for the education
of the poor.
Such were the great achievements of Muslims in the field of science
which paved the way for the growth of modern sciences.