• DOI:10.1086/353360
• Corpus ID: 144315162

The Astronomy of the Mamluks

@article{King1983TheAO,
  title={The Astronomy of the Mamluks},
  author={David A. King},
  journal={Isis},
  year={1983},
  volume={74},
  pages={531 - 555}
}

• D. A. King
• Published 1 December 1983
• Physics
• Isis

Arabs’ interests in Astronomy and Astrology entitled “Ilmu’l-hey’e” or “Ilmul-felek” and “Ilm ahkami’n-Nucum” also “Ilm Sinaat-i Ahkami’n-Nucum”by Arabs commenced before the Islamic period. Their contacts with Romans and Sassanids provided them without reckless for astronomy and astrology. Moreover, it is recognized that Arabs have a lot of information about stars, inheritance of Keldanid astronomy. However, it can not be assumed that Arabs do not have scientific and systematical knowledge about astronomy. With the advent of islamic period, both as regulation of the times of prayer, religious days and direction of qibla necessities made essential to develop systematical astronomic knowledge. For that reason, Greek astronomical treatises were first translated from Latin into Arabic. Other scientific activities in this field followed that translation phase. By the VIII. Century, it was obvious that Islamic astronomy science has taken large distance. However, Fatimid astronomer Ibn Yunus, the hallmark of X and XI.centuries, had great achivements for both Islamic world and entire human’s history. Until XIII. Century in Islamic world there was not any study better than Ibn Yunus treatises. Mamluks,who founded a state in the same area with Fatimids, did studies which shadowed both Ibn Yunus and former explorations. Eminent astronomers such Ibnu’sŞâtir and Ibnu’s-Sarrac were brought up in this period. Also Yusuf Ibn Tughan, Ahmed Ibn Timurbay, Baylak el-Kipcaki, Taybuga el-Baklamsi and his son Ali Ibn Taybuga and Seyfeddin Satilmis who we decided when glancing their names were Turkic origin and contributors of astronomy science in that period .