750–1258 CE

The Golden Age

العصر الذهبي

The House of Wisdom, Córdoba and Cairo

Notables
199
Profiles to read
78
Women
24
Leading fields
Mathematicians, Astronomers, Physicians

With the Abbasid revolution the capital moved to Baghdad, and paper arrived from Samarkand. Caliphs, viziers and merchants paid scholars to translate and then surpass the science of Greece, Persia and India. Algebra, trigonometry, experimental optics, clinical medicine and chemistry took shape here.

The Golden Age had many centres: Córdoba and Toledo in al-Andalus, Fatimid Cairo, Bukhara and Rayy in the east, and Fez in the west, where Fatima al-Fihri founded al-Qarawiyyin. Through Toledo and Sicily this knowledge passed into Latin and helped spark the European Renaissance. It ended when the Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258.

Centres of learning

  • Baghdad
  • Córdoba
  • Cairo
  • Bukhara
  • Rayy
  • Toledo
  • Fez
  • Kairouan
  • Damascus

People of The Golden Age

8th century 700–799 CE

704–767 Coming soon Ibn Ishaq ابن إسحاق Earliest comprehensive biography (sira) of the Prophet ﷺ Arabia/Iraq · Historians, Islamic Scholars
d. c.756 Coming soon Ibn al-Muqaffa ابن المقفع Translated Kalila wa Dimna; founder of Arabic literary prose Iraq · Linguists, Philosophers
d. c.758 Profile Maryam Al-Zinyani مريم الزينياني Early woman poet and alchemist Tunisia · Chemists, Poets, Women
c.714–801 Coming soon Rabi'a al-Adawiyya رابعة العدوية Shaped the Sufi doctrine of divine love Iraq · Islamic Scholars, Poets, Women
718–786 Coming soon Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi الخليل بن أحمد الفراهيدي First Arabic dictionary (Kitab al-Ayn), science of prosody, modern harakat Iraq · Linguists, Mathematicians
d. c.777 Coming soon Ibrahim al-Fazari إبراهيم الفزاري Built the first astrolabes in the Islamic world; helped translate Indian astronomy (Sindhind) with his son Iraq · Astronomers
711–795 Coming soon Malik ibn Anas مالك بن أنس Al-Muwatta, earliest surviving law book Arabia · Jurists
731–798 Coming soon Abu Yusuf أبو يوسف Kitab al-Kharaj, early treatise on public finance and taxation Iraq · Economists, Jurists
c.721–815 Profile Jabir ibn Hayyan جابِر بِن حَيّان Father of chemistry: crystallisation, distillation and classification of substances Iraq · Chemists, Philosophers
d. c.796 Coming soon Ya'qub ibn Tariq يعقوب بن طارق Co-translator of the Sanskrit Siddhanta; early zij (astronomical tables) at the Abbasid court Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians
d. c.806 Profile Muhammad al-Fazari الفزاري Translated the Sanskrit Sindhind into Arabic; early astrolabe and zij work Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians, Philosophers
c.760–796 Coming soon Sibawayh سيبويه Al-Kitab, the founding systematic grammar of Arabic Iran/Iraq · Linguists
763–809 Coming soon Harun al-Rashid هارون الرشيد Founded the Baghdad library that grew into the House of Wisdom; first Baghdad hospital and paper mill era Iraq · Politicians

9th century 800–899 CE

767–820 Coming soon Al-Shafi'i الشافعي Al-Risala, founded the science of legal theory (usul al-fiqh) Arabia/Egypt · Jurists
747–823 Coming soon Al-Waqidi الواقدي Kitab al-Maghazi on the Prophet's ﷺ campaigns Arabia/Iraq · Historians
d. 831 Profile Zubayda bint Ja'far زبيدة بنت جعفر Built the Darb Zubayda pilgrim road and wells, and water for Mecca Iraq · Humanitarians, Women 766–818 Profile Imam Ali al-Rida الامام علي بن موسى الرضا Eighth Imam; the 'Golden Treatise' on medicine is attributed to him Arabia/Iran · Humanitarians, Islamic Scholars, Jurists
767–850 Coming soon Ishaq al-Mawsili إسحاق الموصلي Leading musician and theorist of the Abbasid court Iraq · Musicians
762–824 Coming soon Sayyida Nafisa السيدة نفيسة Scholar consulted by al-Shafi'i Egypt · Islamic Scholars, Women
786–833 Profile Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf ibn Matar الحجّاج بن يوسف بن مطر Translated Euclid's Elements and Ptolemy's Almagest into Arabic Iraq · Linguists, Mathematicians fl. c.800–845 Profile Ahmad Nahavandi Observations at Jundishapur; compiled the 'Comprehensive' astronomical tables Iran · Astronomers c.780–850 Profile Al-Khwarizmi الخوارزمي Founded algebra; 'algorithm' comes from his name; spread Hindu-Arabic numerals Khwarazm/Iraq · Astronomers, Geographers, Mathematicians
786–833 Coming soon Al-Ma'mun المأمون Expanded the House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma), funded translation, observatories and measurement of the Earth Iraq · Humanitarians, Politicians
780–855 Coming soon Ahmad ibn Hanbal أحمد بن حنبل Musnad hadith collection; Hanbali school Iraq · Islamic Scholars, Jurists
c.800–860 Coming soon Al-Abbas ibn Said al-Jawhari العباس بن سعيد الجوهري Worked on Euclid's parallel postulate; observer at al-Ma'mun's Baghdad observatory Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians
776–868 Coming soon Al-Jahiz الجاحظ Kitab al-Hayawan, early observations on animals and environment; master stylist Iraq · Linguists, Zoologists
784–845 Coming soon Ibn Sa'd ابن سعد Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, foundational biographical dictionary Iraq · Historians
9th c. Profile Ibn Turk ابن ترک Early algebra text on quadratic equations, 'Logical Necessities in Mixed Equations' Central Asia/Iraq · Inventors, Mathematicians
789–857 Coming soon Ziryab زرياب Added the fifth string to the oud; founded a music school in Cordoba; introduced a three-course meal order Iraq/Al-Andalus · Musicians
c.770–870 Profile Habash al-Hasib al-Marwazi First tables of tangents; observations at Baghdad and Damascus Iran/Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians d. after 864 Profile Sanad ibn Ali سند بن علي Astronomer at al-Ma'mun's observatory; took part in measuring the Earth's circumference Iraq · Astronomers, Engineers, Linguists 787–886 Profile Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi Astronomy and theory of tides; his works shaped medieval European astronomy Afghanistan/Iraq · Astronomers 9th c. Profile Ahmad ibn Musa (Banu Musa) أحمد بن موسى Book of Ingenious Devices: automatic controls and valves Iraq · Astronomers, Engineers, Inventors c.800–870 Profile Al-Farghani الفرغاني Elements of Astronomy, used in Europe for centuries; built the Nilometer in Cairo Central Asia/Egypt · Astronomers 9th c. Profile Al-Hasan ibn Musa (Banu Musa) الحسن بن موسى Geometry of the ellipse; co-author of the Banu Musa works Iraq · Astronomers, Inventors, Mathematicians c.801–873 Profile Al-Kindi الكندي Philosopher of the Arabs; cryptanalysis by frequency analysis; optics Iraq · Islamic Scholars, Mathematicians, Philosophers c.820–880 Profile Al-Mahani Studied cubic equations ('al-Mahani's equation'); astronomical observations Iran/Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians
810–870 Coming soon Muhammad al-Bukhari محمد البخاري Sahih al-Bukhari; rigorous source-criticism method Central Asia · Islamic Scholars
d. 873 Profile Muhammad ibn Musa (Banu Musa) محمد بن موسى Eldest of the Banu Musa brothers; geometry, astronomy and mechanics Iraq · Astronomers, Engineers, Mathematicians
9th c. Coming soon Sulayman al-Tajir سليمان التاجر Merchant's account of sea voyages to India and China (851) Iraq · Travellers
c.838–870 Profile Ali ibn Sahl Rabban al-Tabari علي بن سهل الربان الطبري Firdaws al-Hikma, early Arabic medical encyclopedia; teacher of al-Razi Iran/Iraq · Philosophers, Physicians, Psychologists c.800–880 Profile Fatima al-Fihri فاطمة بنت محمد الفهرية القرشية Founded al-Qarawiyyin in Fez (859), the oldest continuously operating university Morocco · Philosophers, Women
9th c. Coming soon Maryam al-Fihri مريم الفهرية Founded the Andalusian Mosque of Fez; sister of Fatima al-Fihri Morocco · Humanitarians, Women
810–887 Profile Abbas ibn Firnas عباس بن فرناس Early controlled glider flight; water clock and colourless glass making in Córdoba Al-Andalus · Chemists, Engineers, Physicists
815–875 Coming soon Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj مسلم بن الحجاج Sahih Muslim Iran · Islamic Scholars
828–896 Profile Abu Hanifa Dinawari Book of Plants, founding work of Arabic botany; astronomy and history Iran · Astronomers, Botanists, Geographers 9th c. Profile Abu Sa'id al-Jurjani Geometrical problems and the drawing of the meridian line Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians
835–884 Coming soon Ahmad ibn Tulun أحمد بن طولون Built Cairo's first public hospital with free care, and the Ibn Tulun Mosque Egypt · Humanitarians, Politicians
d. 892 Coming soon Al-Baladhuri البلاذري Futuh al-Buldan, history of the early conquests Iraq · Historians
c.820–912 Coming soon Ibn Khordadbeh ابن خرداذبه Book of Roads and Kingdoms, earliest surviving Arabic geography of trade routes Iran/Iraq · Geographers
828–889 Coming soon Ibn Qutayba ابن قتيبة Adab al-Katib and Uyun al-Akhbar Iraq · Historians, Linguists
835–912 Coming soon Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Misri أحمد بن يوسف المصري Book on ratio and proportion, widely used in Latin Europe as 'Ametus Filius Josephi' Egypt · Mathematicians
d. 897 Coming soon Al-Ya'qubi اليعقوبي Universal history and Kitab al-Buldan on the cities of the empire Iraq/Egypt · Geographers, Historians
c.850–930 Coming soon Abu Kamil Shuja ibn Aslam أبو كامل شجاع بن أسلم Extended al-Khwarizmi's algebra to irrational coefficients; source for Fibonacci Egypt · Mathematicians

10th century 900–999 CE

865–925 Profile Abu Bakr al-Razi أبو بکر محمد بن زکریاء الرازي Distinguished smallpox from measles; ran the Baghdad hospital; isolated many chemicals Iran · Chemists, Philosophers, Physicians
853–944 Coming soon Abu Mansur al-Maturidi أبو منصور الماتريدي Founder of the Maturidi school of theology Central Asia · Islamic Scholars
850–934 Profile Abu Zayd al-Balkhi ابو زید احمد بن سهل بلخی Mental health and the body; founded the Balkhi school of mapmaking Afghanistan · Geographers, Mathematicians, Physicians c.865–922 Profile Al-Nayrizi Commentary on Euclid's Elements; treatise on the spherical astrolabe Iran/Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians
839–923 Coming soon Ibn Jarir al-Tabari ابن جرير الطبري History of Prophets and Kings and the great Qur'an commentary Iran/Iraq · Historians, Islamic Scholars
c.858–929 Profile al-Battani Measured the solar year to within minutes; trigonometric ratios replacing Greek chords Syria/Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians
10th c. Coming soon Ibn Rustah ابن رستة Encyclopedia with accounts of the Rus, Khazars and Hungarians Iran · Geographers, Travellers
874–936 Coming soon Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari أبو الحسن الأشعري Founder of the Ash'ari school of theology Iraq · Islamic Scholars
c.872–950 Profile Al-Farabi الفارابي The 'Second Teacher' after Aristotle; logic, politics and music theory Central Asia/Syria · Musicians, Philosophers
886–940 Coming soon Ibn Muqla ابن مقلة Proportional script system that defined Arabic calligraphy Iraq · Calligraphers
858–941 Coming soon Rudaki رودکی Father of New Persian poetry Central Asia · Poets
c.880–943 Coming soon Sinan ibn Thabit سنان بن ثابت Organised hospitals in Baghdad, introduced physician licensing exams, mobile clinics to villages and prisons Iraq · Humanitarians, Physicians
fl. 921 Profile Ahmad ibn Fadlan أحمد بن فضلان Eyewitness account of the Volga Bulgars and the Rus Iraq/Volga · Geographers, Jurists, Travellers 893–945 Profile Al-Hamdani أبو محمد الحسن بن أحمد بن يعقوب الهمداني Geography and antiquities of Arabia (al-Iklil); mining and metals Yemen · Astronomers, Geographers, Historians
c.900–960 Coming soon Ibn Umayl ابن أميل Alchemical writings translated into Latin as 'Senior Zadith' Egypt · Chemists
10th c. Coming soon Ibn Wahshiyya ابن وحشية Nabataean Agriculture; deciphered some Egyptian hieroglyphs Iraq · Botanists, Chemists
908–946 Coming soon Ibrahim ibn Sinan إبراهيم بن سنان Simplified the quadrature of the parabola; studied sundials and the motion of the sun Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians
c.900–971 Profile Abu Jafar al-Khazin Solar models and solution of cubic equations with conic sections Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians c.896–956 Profile Al-Mas'udi المسعودي Meadows of Gold, encyclopedic history and geography Iraq/Egypt · Geographers, Historians
10th c. Coming soon Rabi'a Balkhi رابعه بلخی First known woman poet of Persian literature Afghanistan · Poets, Women
897–967 Coming soon Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani أبو الفرج الأصفهاني Kitab al-Aghani, encyclopedia of songs and poets Iraq · Historians, Musicians
10th c. Coming soon Al-Istakhri الإصطخري Masalik al-Mamalik with regional maps, Balkhi school of cartography Iran · Cartographers, Geographers
915–965 Coming soon Al-Mutanabbi المتنبي Greatest classical Arabic poet Iraq/Syria · Poets
c.895–979 Profile Ibn al-Jazzar الجزار Physician of Kairouan; Provisions for the Traveller, translated into Latin Tunisia · Physicians 10th c. Profile Mariam al-Ijliya العجلية بنت العجلي Made precision astrolabes at the court of Sayf al-Dawla in Aleppo Syria · Astronomers, Inventors, Women
c.920–980 Coming soon Abu'l-Hasan al-Uqlidisi أبو الحسن الإقليدسي Earliest known text using decimal fractions; adapted Hindu-Arabic arithmetic to pen and paper Syria · Mathematicians
903–986 Profile Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi عبدالرحمن الصوفی Book of Fixed Stars; first recorded description of the Andromeda galaxy Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians d. 987 Profile Sutayta al-Mahmali سطيتا المحملي Mathematician and jurist of Baghdad, praised for solving equations and inheritance problems Iraq · Mathematicians, Women
d. 983 Coming soon Akhawayni Bukhari اخوینی بخاری Hidayat al-Muta'allimin, oldest medical book in Persian; early accounts of mental illness Central Asia · Physicians
d. 987 Profile Amah al-Wahid أمة الوحيد Jurist and mathematician of Baghdad; issued legal opinions Iraq · Islamic Scholars, Jurists, Mathematicians d. after 978 Profile Ibn Hawqal بن حوقل Surat al-Ard, geography and maps from personal travel Iraq · Geographers, Travellers d. 984 Profile Lubna of Cordoba لبنى القرطبية Mathematician, scribe and librarian of the Córdoba palace library Al-Andalus · Mathematicians, Women
d. 990 Coming soon Muhammad al-Tamimi محمد التميمي Physician of Jerusalem; treatises on antidotes and on the environment and health Palestine/Egypt · Physicians
c.923–1023 Coming soon Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi أبو حيان التوحيدي Al-Imta' wa'l-Mu'anasa; master of Arabic prose Iraq/Iran · Linguists, Philosophers
c.945–1020 Coming soon Abu Sa'id al-Sijzi أبو سعيد السجزي Geometry of conics; built an astrolabe based on the idea that the Earth rotates Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians
c.940–1000 Profile Abu Sahl al-Quhi ابوسهل بیژن ابن رستم کوهی Geometry of conics; directed the Baghdad observatory; centres of gravity Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians, Physicists
d. 992 Coming soon Abu al-Hasan al-Amiri أبو الحسن العامري Compared religions philosophically; reconciled philosophy and revelation Iran · Philosophers
940–998 Profile Abu al-Wafa al-Buzjani Introduced the tangent and secant; spherical trigonometry and the law of sines Iran/Iraq · Astronomers, Mathematicians 936–1013 Profile Al-Zahrawi الزهراوي Father of modern surgery; Kitab al-Tasrif with 200+ surgical instruments Al-Andalus · Chemists, Physicians, Surgeons
d. c.982–994 Coming soon Ali ibn al-Abbas al-Majusi (Haly Abbas) علي بن العباس المجوسي Kamil al-Sina'a al-Tibbiyya (The Royal Book), a leading medical text in Europe Iran · Physicians
944–994 Coming soon Ibn Juljul ابن جلجل History of physicians; work on Dioscorides' pharmacology Al-Andalus · Historians, Physicians
932–1030 Profile Ibn Miskawayh ابن مسكويه Tahdhib al-Akhlaq on ethics; history of nations Iran · Historians, Philosophers, Physicians d. 990 Profile Mohammed al-Saghani Astronomer and instrument maker at the Baghdad observatory of Sharaf al-Dawla Iraq · Astronomers
c.940–1000 Coming soon Ibn Sahl ابن سهل Stated the law of refraction (Snell's law) six centuries before Snell; burning mirrors and lenses Iraq · Mathematicians, Physicists
c.945–991 Coming soon Al-Muqaddasi المقدسي Ahsan al-Taqasim: field-based geography using personal observation Palestine · Geographers, Travellers
d. c.995 Coming soon Ibn al-Nadim ابن النديم Al-Fihrist, catalogue of all books known in Arabic in 987 Iraq · Historians
10th c. Profile Abolfadl Harawi ابو الفضل هروى Revised the Arabic translation of Menelaus' Spherics; observations at Rayy Iran/Afghanistan · Astronomers, Mathematicians
d. 1002 Coming soon Ibn Jinni ابن جني Al-Khasa'is on linguistic theory and phonetics Iraq · Linguists
d. c.1003 Coming soon Isma'il al-Jawhari إسماعيل الجوهري Al-Sihah dictionary; died attempting a flight with wings Central Asia · Inventors, Linguists
d. c.1007 Profile Maslama al-Majriti مسلمة بن أحمد المجريطي Founded the Córdoba school of astronomy; adapted al-Khwarizmi's tables Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Chemists, Mathematicians c.940–1000 Profile Abu-Mahmud Khujandi ابومحمود خجندی Built the huge mural sextant at Rayy to measure the Earth's axial tilt Central Asia/Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians

11th century 1000–1099 CE

c.960–1036 Profile Abu Nasr Mansur أبو نصر منصور Proved the spherical law of sines; teacher of al-Biruni Central Asia · Astronomers, Mathematicians d. c.1010 Profile Abu Sahl 'Isa ibn Yahya al-Masihi أبو سهل عيسى بن يحيى المسيحى Physician and teacher of Ibn Sina (a Christian) Iran · Physicians
10th c. Coming soon Ammar ibn Ali al-Mawsili عمار بن علي الموصلي Invented a hollow suction needle for cataract removal Iraq/Egypt · Inventors, Physicians, Surgeons
969–1007 Coming soon Badi al-Zaman al-Hamadhani بديع الزمان الهمذاني Created the maqama literary genre Iran · Linguists, Poets
10th–11th c. Profile Fatima Al-Majritiya فاطمة المجريطي Worked with her father Maslama on astronomical tables ('Corrections of Fatima') Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Mathematicians, Women
940–1020 Coming soon Ferdowsi فردوسی Shahnameh, the national epic that preserved the Persian language Iran · Poets
c.950–1009 Profile Ibn Yunus ابن يونس Hakimi Zij, one of the most accurate astronomical tables of its time Egypt · Astronomers, Mathematicians
d. 1022 Coming soon Ibn al-Bawwab ابن البواب Refined naskh script; oldest surviving naskh Qur'an Iraq · Calligraphers
971–1029 Profile Kushyar Gilani کوشیار دیلمی Arithmetic of Indian numerals and astronomical tables (Jami Zij) Iran · Astronomers, Geographers, Mathematicians
953–1029 Coming soon Al-Karaji الكرجي Freed algebra from geometry; early proof by mathematical induction and the binomial triangle Iraq · Mathematicians
970–1023 Coming soon Sitt al-Mulk Fatimid princess and regent who governed Egypt after al-Hakim Egypt · Politicians, Women
980–1037 Coming soon Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi أبو منصور البغدادي Al-Takmila fi'l-Hisab, an important arithmetic treatise; also theologian Iraq/Iran · Islamic Scholars, Mathematicians
973–1048 Profile Al-Biruni أبو ريحان محمد بن أحمد البيروني Measured Earth's radius; India; specific gravity; founding figure of comparative studies Central Asia · Astronomers, Mathematicians, Philosophers 980–1037 Profile Ibn Sina ابن سينا The Canon of Medicine, taught in Europe until the 17th century; philosophy Central Asia/Iran · Philosophers, Physicians 965–1040 Profile Ibn al-Haytham أبو علي، الحسن بن الحسن بن الهيثم Book of Optics; how vision works; pioneer of the experimental method Iraq/Egypt · Astronomers, Mathematicians, Physicists d. after 1037 Profile Ali ibn Abi al-Rijal أبو الحسن علي ابن أبي الرجال Kitab al-Bari', a major astronomical-astrological work translated into Latin Tunisia · Astronomers d. c.1070 Profile Abu 'Ubayd al-Juzjani أبو عبيد عبد الواحد بن محمد الجوزجاني Student and biographer of Ibn Sina; completed his unfinished works Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians
974–1058 Coming soon Al-Mawardi الماوردي Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyya, classic of political science and administration Iraq · Jurists, Politicians
988–1061 Profile Ali ibn Ridwan أبو الحسن علي بن رضوان Physician of Cairo; on preventing disease and the physician's education Egypt · Astronomers, Physicians
994–1064 Coming soon Ibn Hazm ابن حزم Pioneer of comparative religion; The Ring of the Dove on love Al-Andalus · Historians, Islamic Scholars, Philosophers
1003–1071 Coming soon Ibn Zaydun ابن زيدون Leading Andalusian poet Al-Andalus · Poets
1001–1091 Coming soon Wallada bint al-Mustakfi ولادة بنت المستكفي Poet who ran a literary salon in Cordoba Al-Andalus · Poets, Women
d. c.1072 Coming soon Ali Hujwiri (Data Ganj Bakhsh) علی ہجویری Kashf al-Mahjub, oldest Persian treatise on Sufism Lahore · Islamic Scholars
11th c. Coming soon Ibn Khalaf al-Muradi ابن خلف المرادي Book of Secrets: water clocks with segmental and epicyclic gearing Al-Andalus · Engineers, Inventors
989–1079 Coming soon Ibn Mu'adh al-Jayyani ابن معاذ الجياني First treatise on spherical trigonometry in the West; studied twilight and atmospheric height Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Mathematicians
1008–1074 Coming soon Ibn Wafid ابن وافد Book of Simple Drugs; designed the royal botanical garden of Toledo Al-Andalus · Botanists, Physicians
d. 1070 Coming soon Karima al-Marwaziyya كريمة المروزية Leading transmitter of Sahih al-Bukhari Iran/Mecca · Islamic Scholars, Women
1004–1088 Coming soon Nasir Khusraw ناصر خسرو Safarnama, seven-year travelogue through Egypt and Arabia; Persian poetry Iran · Philosophers, Poets, Travellers
1029–1087 Profile Al-Zarqali إبراهيم بن يحيى الزرقالي Universal astrolabe (saphea) and the Toledan Tables used across Europe Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Inventors
1040–1094 Coming soon Abu Ubayd al-Bakri أبو عبيد البكري Book of Roads and Kingdoms; key source on medieval West Africa (Ghana empire) Al-Andalus · Geographers, Historians
1005–1102 Coming soon Mahmud al-Kashgari محمود الكاشغري Diwan Lughat al-Turk, first Turkic dictionary, with a world map Central Asia · Geographers, Linguists
d. 1085 Coming soon Al-Mu'taman ibn Hud المؤتمن بن هود King of Zaragoza; Kitab al-Istikmal, geometry encyclopedia with a version of Ceva's theorem Al-Andalus · Mathematicians, Politicians
d. 1095 Profile E'etemad al-Rumaikiyya اعتماد الرميكية Poet of Seville and wife of King al-Mu'tamid Al-Andalus · Poets, Women
11th c. Coming soon Ibn Bassal ابن بصال Agronomy manual on irrigation and crop varieties of Toledo Al-Andalus · Botanists
d. 1100 Coming soon Ibn Jazla ابن جزلة Taqwim al-Abdan: tabular medical handbook translated into Latin Iraq · Physicians
1018–1092 Coming soon Nizam al-Mulk نظام الملک Founded the Nizamiyya colleges, first state-funded university network; Siyasatnama Iran · Politicians
1058–1111 Profile Al-Ghazali الغزالي Revival of the Religious Sciences; critique of philosophy; Nizamiyya professor Iran · Islamic Scholars, Philosophers 1048–1131 Profile Omar Khayyam عمر خیّام Geometric solution of cubic equations; Jalali calendar; the Rubaiyat Iran · Astronomers, Mathematicians, Philosophers

12th century 1100–1199 CE

11th–12th c. Coming soon Abu al-Khayr al-Ishbili أبو الخير الإشبيلي Agricultural treatise on grafting and plant care Al-Andalus · Botanists
1054–1122 Coming soon Al-Hariri of Basra الحريري Maqamat al-Hariri, masterpiece of Arabic prose Iraq · Linguists, Poets
1061–1121 Coming soon Al-Tughra'i الطغرائي Seljuq vizier, alchemist and author of the famous poem Lamiyyat al-Ajam Iran/Iraq · Chemists, Poets
1048–1138 Coming soon Arwa al-Sulayhi أروى الصليحية Queen of Yemen for 50+ years; built roads, mosques and schools Yemen · Politicians, Women
1041–1136 Coming soon Zayn al-Din Jurjani زین‌الدین جرجانی Dhakhira-yi Khwarazmshahi, great medical encyclopedia in Persian Iran · Physicians
fl. 1115–1130 Profile Al-Khazini الخازنی Book of the Balance of Wisdom on hydrostatics, gravity and density Iran (Merv) · Astronomers, Mathematicians
1075–1144 Coming soon Al-Zamakhshari الزمخشري Al-Kashshaf tafsir and Asas al-Balagha Central Asia · Islamic Scholars, Linguists
c.1085–1138 Coming soon Ibn Bajja (Avempace) ابن باجة Theory of motion that influenced Galileo's early work; philosophy and music Al-Andalus · Philosophers, Physicians, Physicists
1086–1153 Coming soon Al-Shahrastani الشهرستاني Al-Milal wa'l-Nihal, systematic history of religions and philosophies Iran · Historians, Islamic Scholars
1078–1166 Coming soon Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani عبد القادر الجيلاني Founder of the Qadiri order Iraq · Islamic Scholars
1080–1170 Coming soon Abu Hamid al-Gharnati أبو حامد الغرناطي Travelled to the Volga and Hungary; accounts of eastern Europe Al-Andalus · Travellers
c.1080–1165 Profile Abu'l-Barakāt al-Baghdādī أبو البركات البغدادي Critique of Aristotle's theory of motion; ideas of acceleration Iraq · Philosophers, Physicians, Physicists 1094–1162 Profile Ibn Zuhr ابن زهر Experimental surgery and tracheotomy; described scabies mites Al-Andalus · Physicians, Surgeons 1089–1178 Profile Shuhda al-Katiba (Zaynab) شهدة الكاتبة Calligrapher and hadith teacher of Baghdad, called 'the Pride of Women' Iraq · Calligraphers, Islamic Scholars, Philosophers
c.1100–1150 Coming soon Jabir ibn Aflah جابر بن أفلح Critiqued Ptolemy; designed the torquetum; his trigonometry influenced Regiomontanus Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Mathematicians
d. 1165 Coming soon Abu Ja'far al-Ghafiqi أبو جعفر الغافقي Most accurate plant descriptions of his era, used by Ibn al-Baytar Al-Andalus · Botanists, Physicians
12th c. Coming soon Fatima al-Samarqandi فاطمة السمرقندية Jurist who co-signed legal opinions with her husband Central Asia/Syria · Jurists, Women
12th c. Coming soon Mahsati Ganjavi مهستی گنجوی Renowned Persian poet of rubaiyat Azerbaijan · Poets, Women
1100–1165 Profile Muhammad al-Idrisi محمد الإدريسي Tabula Rogeriana, the most accurate world map of the Middle Ages Morocco/Sicily · Cartographers, Geographers
c.1130–1180 Coming soon Al-Samaw'al al-Maghribi السموأل المغربي Algebra of polynomials, negative exponents, induction; physician Morocco/Iraq · Mathematicians, Physicians
c.1105–1185 Profile Ibn Tufayl ابن طفيل Hayy ibn Yaqzan, the philosophical novel that influenced Europe Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Philosophers, Physicians
1118–1174 Coming soon Nur al-Din Zangi نور الدين زنكي Founded the Nuri hospital in Damascus, a teaching hospital with records and a library Syria · Humanitarians, Politicians
12th c. Coming soon Abu Bakr al-Hassar أبو بكر الحصار Earliest known use of the horizontal fraction bar Morocco · Mathematicians
c.1135–1191 Coming soon Hafsa bint al-Hajj al-Rakuniyya حفصة بنت الحاج الركونية Poet and teacher at the Almohad court Al-Andalus · Poets, Women
1126–1198 Profile Ibn Rushd (Averroes) ابن رشد Commentaries on Aristotle that shaped European philosophy; medicine and law Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Islamic Scholars, Linguists
12th c. Coming soon Ibn al-Awwam ابن العوام Kitab al-Filaha: 585 plants and 50 fruit trees Al-Andalus · Botanists
1141–1209 Coming soon Nizami Ganjavi نظامی گنجوی Khamsa (Five Treasures): Layla and Majnun, Khosrow and Shirin Azerbaijan · Poets
1137–1193 Coming soon Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi صلاح الدين الأيوبي Founded hospitals and madrasas; famed for chivalry Egypt/Syria · Humanitarians, Politicians, Warriors
1145–1217 Profile Ibn Jubayr ابن جبير Rihla: travel account of the Mediterranean and the Hajj Al-Andalus · Geographers, Poets, Travellers
1154–1191 Coming soon Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi شهاب الدين السهروردي Founded the Illuminationist (Ishraqi) school of philosophy Iran/Syria · Philosophers
d. c.1204 Profile Al-Bitruji البطروجي Planetary theory without Ptolemy's epicycles, debated in Europe Al-Andalus · Astronomers, Physicians 1149–1209 Profile Fakhr al-Din al-Razi فخر الدين الرازي Great Qur'an commentary; theology, medicine and natural philosophy Iran · Islamic Scholars, Philosophers
c.1145–1221 Coming soon Farid al-Din Attar فریدالدین عطار The Conference of the Birds Iran · Philosophers, Poets
d. 1204 Coming soon Ibn al-Yasamin ابن الياسمين Algebra in verse; early symbolic notation for roots Morocco · Mathematicians, Poets
c.1135–1213 Profile Sharaf al-Din al-Tusi شرف‌الدین التوسی Study of cubic equations; early ideas of the derivative Iran/Iraq · Mathematicians

13th century 1200–1299 CE

1162–1231 Profile Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi Corrected Galen's anatomy of the jaw and sacrum by direct observation; account of Egypt Iraq/Egypt · Historians, Philosophers, Physicians
d. 1215 Coming soon Ali ibn Abi Bakr al-Harawi علي بن أبي بكر الهروي Guide to pilgrimage sites, an early travel guidebook Syria · Travellers
1136–1206 Profile Ismail al-Jazari إسماعيل بن الرزاز الجزيري Book of Ingenious Mechanical Devices: crankshaft, camshaft, programmable automata Anatolia/Mesopotamia · Engineers, Inventors
1156–1242 Coming soon Kamal al-Din ibn Yunus كمال الدين بن يونس Mosul teacher of mathematics, astronomy and law; solved problems sent from Frederick II's court Iraq · Islamic Scholars, Mathematicians
1143–1236 Coming soon Mu'in al-Din Chishti معین‌الدین چشتی Established the Chishti order in South Asia India · Humanitarians, Islamic Scholars
d. c.1230 Coming soon Ridwan al-Sa'ati رضوان الساعاتي Maintained and described the great water clock at the Jayrun gate of Damascus Syria · Engineers, Inventors
d. 1222 Profile Najib ad-Din Samarqandi نجيب الدين السمرقندي Systematic book of causes and symptoms of disease Central Asia · Physicians
d. 1221 Coming soon Mahmud al-Jaghmini محمود الجغميني Al-Mulakhkhas fi'l-Hay'a, the standard astronomy textbook in madrasas for centuries Central Asia · Astronomers, Physicians
1165–1240 Coming soon Ibn Arabi ابن عربي Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya; most influential Sufi metaphysician Al-Andalus/Syria · Islamic Scholars, Philosophers
d. 1228 Coming soon Ibn Mun'im ابن منعم Fiqh al-Hisab: early systematic combinatorics Morocco · Mathematicians
1160–1233 Coming soon Ibn al-Athir ابن الأثير Al-Kamil fi'l-Tarikh, universal history including the Crusades and Mongols Iraq · Historians
1179–1229 Coming soon Yaqut al-Hamawi ياقوت الحموي Mu'jam al-Buldan, an encyclopedic dictionary of places Syria/Iraq · Geographers, Historians
1197–1248 Coming soon Ibn al-Baytar ابن البيطار Compendium of 1,400 medicinal plants and drugs, 300+ new to science Al-Andalus/Syria · Botanists, Physicians
1186–1242 Profile Dayfa Khatun ضيفة خاتون Ayyubid regent of Aleppo; founded madrasas and the Firdaws complex Syria · Politicians, Women
1205–1240 Coming soon Razia Sultana First and only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate Delhi Sultanate · Politicians, Women
d. 1265 Coming soon Athir al-Din al-Abhari أثير الدين الأبهري Isagoge logic primer used for 700 years Iran · Astronomers, Philosophers
1203–1270 Coming soon Ibn Abi Usaybi'a ابن أبي أصيبعة Uyun al-Anba: biographies of 380 physicians, the main history of Islamic medicine Syria/Egypt · Historians, Physicians
1213–1286 Coming soon Ibn Sa'id al-Maghribi ابن سعيد المغربي Geography with coordinates; anthology of Andalusian poetry Al-Andalus · Geographers, Historians, Poets
1207–1273 Coming soon Jalal al-Din Rumi جلال‌الدین محمد رومی Masnavi; among the most read poets in the world Anatolia · Philosophers, Poets
d. 1257 Profile Shajarat al-Durr شجرة الدر Sultana of Egypt who led resistance to the Seventh Crusade Egypt · Politicians, Women
c.1210–1291 Coming soon Saadi Shirazi سعدی شیرازی Gulistan and Bustan; 'Bani Adam' verse at the UN Iran · Philosophers, Poets