It was a research and educational center where leading scholars from various fields came to share their knowledge. The House of Wisdom was the largest repository of books in the whole world already by the middle of the ninth century. It was the leading center for the study of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, alchemy, chemistry, zoology, geography and cartography.
Unluckily the mongols destroyed the House of Wisdom when they attacked Baghdad in Feature Written by Hariri, shows a library in Baghdad In the House of Wisdom, translators, scientists, scribes, authors, men of letters, writers, authors, copyists and others used to meet every day for translation, reading, writing, scribing, discourse, dialogue and discussion. Heide and Judith H. It should be pointed out that the Arabic term Khizanat Kutub, meaning literally a bookstore, is an old name meaning a present day library.
This means that all activities implied or suggested by this culture—the Zorastrian ideology of the recovery of ancient Avestan texts through the re- translation of Greek works and all that that implied—could be conducted as semi-official activities, or at least as condoned by official policy.
The numerous translations from the Greek which were commissioned by the Barmakids, for example should be seen in this light. The example set by the caliphs and the highest adminstrators was naturally followed by the others of lesser rank, both civil servants and private individuals. Once the existence of this additional official—though indirectly so—sanction for Graeco-Arabic translations is realized, the origins and rapid spread of the movement in early 'Abbasid times is better understood.
The House of Wisdom is thought to have flourished until it was destroyed by the Mongols in the sacking of Baghdad in Image Source: upload. One standard view was encountered in the Wikipedia article, from which I quote: "The House of Wisdom acted as a society founded by Abbasid caliphs Harun al-Rashid and his son al-Ma'mun who reigned from CE.
This entry was last revised on Norman [email protected]. Intent on securing his rule, al-Mamun moved his official residence to Baghdad, bringing his authority and royal patronage to the House of Wisdom. Works including those by Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy, Hippocrates and Euclid were requested from libraries in the West, such as the library at Constantinople, and brought back to Baghdad to translate. Under Caliph al-Mamun , who was an enthusiastic promoter of the House, it was greatly extended to include separate galleries for each branch of science.
The pursuit of knowledge became a dominant feature of Abbasid society, attracting scholars and scientists from all over Europe and the Middle East to take part in this cultural birthing, including Persians and Christians. Scholarly work, particularly translation, became a hugely lucrative career, and some scholars such as Hunayn ibn Ishaq were said to earn the weight in gold of each manuscript they completed.
Caliph al-Mamun was also himself adept in the branches of knowledge taught at the House of Wisdom, including medicine, philosophy and astrology, and often visited the scholars there to discuss their research. At this time astrology was held in the highest esteem as a science in Arab society. The stars and planets were perceived to influence events on earth and astrology was thus carried out with the greatest attention to detail. Al-Mamun had an astronomical observatory built with the intention of addressing the claims of one of the most dominant voices in the ancient world, Ptolemy.
It was the centre for Islamic if not the world culture and civilisation, as well as the headquarters for the Arts, Sciences and Letters. Additionally, one must mention the Great Library of Cordoba of the Umayyad Dynasty in Andalusia with its thousands of magnificent books and manuscripts. One can only imagine its invaluable collection when one reads that after and during the Spanish Inquisition when about half-a-million of its priceless books and manuscripts were deliberately and callously burnt!
There were rivalry and competitions between these three libraries in obtaining the most magnificent books and manuscripts as well as in attracting the best scholars to work there. Such competitions were very beneficial to the advancement of scientific research and publications in the Islamic World. The round city of Baghdad in the 10th century at the time of House of Wisdom.
It would not be an exaggeration to imagine camel caravans loaded with magnificent books and manuscripts criss-crossing the Islamic World on their way to reach the magnificent Libraries of Bayt or Dar A-Hikma in Baghdad, Dar Al-Hikma in Cairo or the Great Library of Cordoba.
The heritage contained in the Iraqi Museum suffered the same. A point has to be made here about the term Medieval frequently used in civilisation literature. House of Wisdom illustration Source. Librairie du Liban. Hayes, John B. Editor , 2nd Edition. Baghdad: Iraqi Scientific Academy Press, x, pp. Baghdad: Iraqi Society of Engineers. Bayrut : Dar Sadir, Written by Hariri, shows a library in Baghdad Source.
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