The Stars along the Silk Roads: Astronomers from Central Asia in the Abbasid Court during the ninth century

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• Razieh S. Mousavi
• Friday 15 March 2024, 14:00-15:00
• Online Event.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Said Reza Huseini.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscu-hrT8oGtzT7AdeLEMT_OMkPOrE2CoT

The ninth century witnessed the expansion of Islamic empire in both eastern and western directions, leading to the migration of diverse ethnic groups to the heart of the caliphate in central Iraq. This influx laid the groundwork for scholarly exchanges and the encounter of diverse perspectives. While recent research highlights the significant influence of political strategies employed by the caliphs on scientific advancements and the selection of scholarly traditions during that era, it is essential not to overlook the intellectual background of the foreign scholars involved. This paper aims to explore why a noteworthy number of astronomers active in the Abbasid court hailed from Central Asian origins. Is this a mere coincidence, or does it trace its roots back to preIslamic scientific traditions? Notable figures and families, such as al-Khwārazmī, Banū Amājūr, Ḥabash al-Ḥāsib, and al-Farghānī, are considered. The focus of this research is particularly on the latter, who, besides his astronomical skills, contributed to urban construction projects in the Abbasid Empire. Al-Farghānī, with roots in Central Asia’s Fergana as indicated by his name, incorporated elements of the Eastern traditions into his renowned astronomical treatise, which is predominantly Ptolemaic.Notably departing from the Greek tradition, he arrangesthe geographical place-names from east to west, aligned with Persian and Indian traditions. Moreover, in his star catalogue, he referenced observations in a city with the latitude of Fergana. It is crucial to highlight that the people of Fergana held significant political roles in the Abbasid government simultaneously. Following the defeat of local governments in Central Asia, many were transported to Iraq as soldier-slaves and settled in distinct military camps near the Turks, who held elevated political status at the time. Through an examination of the works and activities of astronomers with Central Asian origins, this paper seeks to contribute to understanding the flow of knowledge along the Silk Road within the broader context of political and social settings.

About the speaker: Razieh is a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin. She is currently a researcher on the ERC project “Science, Society and Environmental Change in the First Millennium CE,” where she is researching water engineering and culture in the premodern Islamic Mediterranean. Razieh is also preparing a book for publication with Brill: “Al-Farghānī’s Elements of Astronomy: An Interplay of Meaning and Form at the Intersection of Astronomical and Medical Traditions.”

This talk is part of the King's Silk Roads series.

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