Al-Majriti
Andalusian mathematician, astronomer, and alchemist who established science in Islamic Spain.
Who or what
Abu Muslim Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Majriti (c. 950–1007) was an Andalusian mathematician, astronomer, and alchemist from Madrid (Majrit).
He founded a school of mathematics and astronomy in Cordoba and edited and corrected the astronomical tables of al-Khwarizmi.
Why it mattered
Al-Majriti introduced the science of al-Khwarizmi and the astrolabe to Islamic Spain, establishing a scientific tradition in the Maghreb.
He was the first great Andalusian scientist, training a generation of scholars who would carry science in Spain to new heights.
Key works and moments
He corrected and adapted the astronomical tables of al-Khwarizmi to the meridian of Cordoba, making them usable in Spain.
He wrote about practical applications of arithmetic for commerce, surveying, and trade.
Further detail
His "Treatise on the Astrolabe" introduced the use of the universal astrolabe to Andalusian astronomers.
As an alchemist, he wrote on the preparation of substances and the properties of metals.
Legacy
His students spread mathematical and astronomical knowledge across North Africa and Europe.
He established the bridge between Eastern Islamic and Andalusian science.
More in Islamic Golden Age
Assembled from the ReLU.chat curated knowledge base. These explanations are concise on purpose; check the sources for anything important.