Improvements to the astrolabe were one of the achievements of this era
The astrolabe represents the scientific and technological achievements that characterized the Islamic Golden Age
Islamic Golden Age
The Islamic Golden Age was a period of scientific, economic, and cultural flourishing in the history of Islam, traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century, marked by major advances in mathematics, medicine, astronomy, philosophy, and other fields.
750 CE - 780 CE
Beginning of the Abbasid Dynasty
The Abbasid dynasty came to power, marking the beginning of what many consider the Islamic Golden Age. This period saw the establishment of organized scholarship and the flourishing of science and culture under caliphal patronage.
Capital Moved to Baghdad
The Abbasid capital was moved to Baghdad, which became the world's largest city at the time. This relocation facilitated the gathering of scholars from across the Muslim world and the translation of classical knowledge into Arabic and Persian.
781 CE - 811 CE
Reign of Harun al-Rashid Begins
The reign of Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid began, traditionally marking the start of the Islamic Golden Age. His reign saw the inauguration of the House of Wisdom and unprecedented cultural and scientific flourishing.
First Islamic Hospital Built in Baghdad
The earliest known Islamic hospital was built in Baghdad by order of Harun Al-Rashid. This marked the beginning of systematic medical care and hospital administration in the Islamic world.
End of Harun al-Rashid's Reign
The reign of Harun al-Rashid ended, marking the conclusion of what many consider the peak period of early Islamic Golden Age prosperity and cultural achievement.
812 CE - 842 CE
House of Wisdom Established
The House of Wisdom was established in Baghdad by Caliph al-Mansur, modeled after the academy of Jundishapur. It became the premier center for translation and scholarship, where scholars translated Greek, Persian, and Sanskrit works into Arabic.
Death of al-Ma'mun
The death of Caliph al-Ma'mun marked the beginning of territorial losses and political decline that would gradually weaken the Islamic empire, according to some historians marking the beginning of the end of the golden age.
843 CE - 873 CE
Great Mosque of Samarra Completed
The Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq was completed, featuring innovative hypostyle architecture with rows of columns supporting a flat base and a huge spiralling minaret, representing architectural achievements of the period.
University of Al Karaouine Founded
The University of Al Karaouine was founded in Fez, Morocco. It is listed in The Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest degree-granting university, representing the institutionalization of higher learning in the Islamic world.
905 CE - 935 CE
Nastulus Creates Earliest Known Astrolabe
The earliest known astrolabe in existence today was made by Nastulus, representing the sophisticated astronomical instruments developed during the Islamic Golden Age for navigation and timekeeping.
Improvements to the astrolabe were one of the achievements of this era
Islamic astronomers made significant improvements to the astrolabe
936 CE - 966 CE
Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi Describes Andromeda Galaxy
Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi described a 'nebulous spot' in the Andromeda constellation in his Book of Fixed Stars, providing the first definitive reference to what is now known as the Andromeda Galaxy.
967 CE - 997 CE
Al-Azhar Mosque Instruction Begins
Organized instruction began in the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, which became one of the most important centers of Islamic learning and is now recognized as a university, representing the institutionalization of religious and secular education.
Organized instruction in the Cairo Al-Azhar Mosque began in 978
Al-Azhar became a major center of Islamic learning
Important Baghdad Hospital Established
The most important of Baghdad's hospitals was established by the Buyid ruler 'Adud al-Dawla, representing the advancement of medical care and hospital administration during the Islamic Golden Age.
1060 CE - 1090 CE
Omar Khayyam's Treatise on Algebra
Persian mathematician Omar Khayyam completed his 'Treatise on Demonstrations of Problems of Algebra', which was a significant step in the development of algebra and part of the body of Persian mathematics eventually transmitted to Europe.
1153 CE - 1183 CE
Al-Idrisi Creates World Atlas
Muhammad al-Idrisi created the Tabula Rogeriana, considered the best maps of the Middle Ages. These maps were later used by explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama for their voyages to America and India.
Introductory summary overview map from al-Idrisi's 1154 world atlas
Al-Idrisi's world atlas was the most accurate of its time
1246 CE - 1276 CE
Mongol Siege of Baghdad
The Mongol siege of Baghdad resulted in the destruction of the city and the House of Wisdom, traditionally marking the end of the Islamic Golden Age. This event devastated the center of Islamic learning and scholarship.
1339 CE - 1350 CE
Ibn al-Shatir's Astronomical Model
Ibn al-Shatir, working in Damascus, employed the Tusi-couple to successfully eliminate the equant and other objectionable circles from Ptolemaic astronomy, creating a mathematically sound celestial model that influenced later European astronomy.
