Abstract:
This paper is an extension of two Exhibits recently displayed by the presenter at the
Special Collection Libraries of Harvard and Brown Universities (“Windows into
Early Science: Historical Dialogues, Scientific Manuscripts, and Printed Books,”
Harvard University: Houghton Library, April-July 2008; and “Windows into Early
Science and Craft: Selections from the Persian Manuscripts of the Minassian
Collection,” Brown University: John Hay Library, March-April 2010). The present
paper exposes sources and approaches behind and beyond those Exhibits, including a
discussion of what is meant by “Early Science” and “Persian scientific traditions.”
The sources include, in addition to scientific works (Book of Instructions: Abū
Rayḥān Bīrūnī; Book of Constellations:‘Abd al-Raḥmān Ṣūfī and Naṣīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī;
Book of Construction: Abū al-Wafā Buzjānī, etc.), literary sources in both prose and
poetry that are rarely viewed from the angle of science (Shāhnāmih of Firdausī,
versions of its preface in prose, Vīs u Rāmīn of Gurgānī, and Laylī u Majnūn of
Niẓāmī). The discussions range from the identification of Arabic and Persian
scientific traditions and their distinctions, to the isolation of distinctive features such
as the texts’ linguistic expression, authors’ ethnic associations, subjects’ geographic
locations and other specifications.
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