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LESSON 4:
THE CONTRIBUTION OF ARABS, CHINESE AND HINDU IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Arabic Civilization
Location:
 originated in Arab Peninsula, Saudi Arabia in 622 A.D.
 Arabic is the written and spoken language in 622 AD. Arabic is the written and spoken language
of the Arabs.
 At present there 22 Arabic-speaking countries:
a. Algeria
b. Bahrain
c. Comoro Islands
d. Djibouti
e. Egypt
f. Iraq
g. Jordan
h. Kuwait
i. Lebanon
j. Libya
k. Mauritania
l. Morocco
m. Oman
n. Palestine
o. Qatar
p. Saudi Arabia
q. Somalia
r. Syria
s. Tunasia
t. UAE
u. Yemen

 Their religion Islam means “submission to the will of God”. God Allah conveyed to Muhammad,
a tradesman, a series of revelations which were to form the basis of new faith.
Science and Technology Development:
Algebra and Geometry
 Muhammad bin Moosaa Al-Khawaarizmi-
-he is considered to be one of the founders of Algebra .
-The word ‘algorithm’ or ‘algorizm’ is a corruption of his name or the name of the town
Khwaarizm (Kheva), in what is now Uzbekistan where he was born.
-He introduced Arabic Numerals
-He developed several arithmetical procedures including operations on fractions.

In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is a finite sequence of well-defined,

computer-implementable instructions, typically to solve a class of problems or to perform a

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computation .Algorithms are always unambiguous and are used as specifications for performing
calculations, data processing, automated reasoning, and other tasks.

Arabic numerals are the ten digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The term often implies a decimal
number written using these digits, which is the most common system for the symbolic
representation of numbers in the world today, and is also called Hindu–Arabic numerals.[

Trigonometry, Sine, Tangent,Co-tangent

 Ibn Moosaa’s work. Hisaab-Al Jab- Wal Muqaabala (The Calculation of Integration and
Equation) presented 800 examples in the 8th century CE. His work was translated from Arabic
into Latin and until the 16th century CE, it was Europe’s main textbook on the subject.

Astronomy
Astrolabe- an instrument used to observe star

An astrolabe is a two-dimensional model of the celestial sphere. The name has its origins from
the Greek words astron and lambanien meaning "the one who catches the heavenly bodies. An
astrolabe is an instrument that once was the most used, multipurpose astronomical instrument.
The device was known as an astrolabe, which took its name, ultimately, from the Greek
astrolabos, or "star-taking." It was used primarily to make astronomical measurements, typically
of the altitudes of celestial bodies, but astute philosophers, astrologers and sailors devised
hundreds of uses for the instrument.

Physics and Chemistry

 Kamalluddeen
-He examined the refraction of sunlight in raindrops and offered an explanation of the genesis of
primary and secondary rainbows.

Primary rainbow is formed because of one total internal reflection and two refraction of white
light by water droplet whereas secondary rainbow is formed because of two total internal
reflections and two refraction of white light by water droplet.

 Haaroon Ar- Rasheed

- He was associated with the story of the invention of the pendulum and the presentation of water
clock to Emperor Charlemagne.

How a Pendulum Works:

A pendulum is made up of a string or solid rod with a weight attached to the end. Pendulums are
designed in such a way that once they are moved, they will continue to swing for a long period of
time. Gravity is the force that keeps the pendulum moving. Pendulums are often used in clocks
because it takes the same amount of time for it to swing in one direction as it does for it to swing
in the other direction. The amount of time it takes for a pendulum to swing from one side to the
other and back again is called a “period.” A pendulum whose period is 4 seconds takes 2
seconds to swing to the left and 2 seconds to swing back to the right.

How a Mechanical Clock Works:

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Mechanical clocks tell time using gears. They have two important parts: a mainspring and a
pendulum. Mechanical clocks are wound with a key, and this tightens the mainspring. As the
mainspring unwinds, its energy turns gears which cause the hands to move. The pendulum keeps
time and ensures that the gears move at the right pace: second by second. Instead of a
mainspring, some mechanical clocks have weights that pull the gears at the right pace.
Mechanical clocks do not need electricity to operate. They can run off of the energy generated by
their springs and weights.

Science and Mechanics

Mosaa bin Shaakir-
 The genius who contributed the development of science in Islam
 He described one hundred pieces of mechanical equipment in his book of artifices.

Field of Optics
Ibn Haytham- in 1038 CE he invented the Camera Obscura

"Camera Obscura" means "dark room", and the use of a pinhole in a window blind to form an
inverted image of an outside scene on an opposite wall of a dark room has been known since at
least the time of the Arab scholar Ibn al Hait[h]em (or Alhazen, ca. 956-1038).

Theory of Relativity
Qaadhi Abu Bakr-
 He developed the theory of relativity in the 8th century CE in terms of time and space by means
of mathematical equations and astrophysics. Imagine, Einstein who was not yet born yet at that
time, propounded the same theory of relativity much later in th 20th century.
The faster you move through space the slower you move through time. Newton’s law states that
Velocities are never absolute but always relative. The time runs slower on earth surface than it does
above the atmosphere.

Architecture
 Mosque- built before the great Mosque of Damascus
Water wheel
Water Irrigation

Paper Making- this was one of the earliest skills attained by Muslims. As early as 8 th century
CE, high quality paper was being manufactured in Samarqand, Egypt was known to have its first
paper mill in the year 900 CE.

Advances in Industry – Muslims were leading in

 weaving wool
 Producing silk
 Pottery
 Jewelry
 leather industry.
 Perfume industry

II. Chinese Civilization

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Location: Ancient China was built along the two rivers HuangHo (Yellow River) in the north, and later
the Yangtze in the south.
China is one of the oldest civilizations and the world’s most populous country (Asia), with a population
of over 1.35 billion.
Science and Technology Development:
Various forms of sciences such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, meteorology, seismology, have
originated from China.
Chinese, contributions to science and technology:
Paper and Chinese calligraphy began writing about 1500 BC. The earliest writing that we know
of from China was on animal bones, which are called ‘oracle bones’ because they were used to
tell the future.

Place value number system- decimal or base ten system was first developed by the Chinese. The
earliest invention was ‘abacus’- a calculator that used sliding beads to help compute math
problems quickly.

The first recorded observation of comet, solar eclipses were done in China

The clock was first devised for astronomical purposes. The first ever clock had a puppet which
would hold up a plate that would tell the time. Also, a giant water clocks which rang every 15
minutes were invented.

Magnetic compass: The compass was a wooden circle with markings on it, and a magnetic spoon
on top, used for religious purposes.

Gunpowder: Scientists made gunpowder by mixing Sulphur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. The
reason gunpowder explodes is that it burns very fast, and when it burns it releases gases that are
bigger in volume than the original powder.

Fireworks were actually bamboo cases filled with gunpowder with a fuse on the side. Fireworks
were initially used only for shows. Later on they were used to scare off enemies during the war.

Invented kites and lanterns

Kites were first invented in China during Chou dynasty. Kites were first made of bamboo and
silk. Chinese people flew kites for fun and also during war to carry messages to signal people and
also to carry explosives in besieged cities. Chinese put the kites to use as hang gliders by cutting
the cord. The gliders were strong enough to sustain the weight of a man.

Seismological detectors. Zhang Heng invented the earthquake detecting tool called seismoscope.
His seismoscope was a giant bronze vessel resembling a kettle almost 6 feet in diameter. On the
outside, the machine had eight dragons facing down marking the primary directions of the
compass. In each dragon’s mouth was a bronze ball. Beneath the dragons sat eight bronze toads
with their broad mouths gaping to receive the balls.

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Cross bow is a bow set horizontally on a stock. When the shooter releases a mechanism, the
crossbow fires arrows or bolts forced by the mechanical energy of previously stretched
bowstring.

Fan were made of bamboo spines that stick out in the shape of semicircle with silk wrapped
around it. Fans were mostly used by women and soldiers.

Paper and Printing. Their early script contained 80,000 different characters. They went on to
invent books and had book shops in every city by the end of Tang dynasty. There were three
different kinds of paper, the first being silk and rags, the cheap kinds were the wooden strips, and
the most expensive was silk cloth.

Seed Drill: Seed Drills were used by farmers to plant seeds into the soil at uniform depth.
Without this tool, farmers otherwise would toss the seeds with hands over the ground resulting in
wastage and uneven growth.

Iron Plough. This was one of the major developments in Ancient Chinese agriculture. It was first
developed in 4th century BC. Later on it was more popular and used commonly during Han
dynasty.

Porcelain. This is made of special white clay which has a lot of kaolin in it. The clay is put on fire
at very high temperature. The temperature is kept so high that some of the clay melts and
becomes shiny and translucent like glasses.

Silk was made from the cocoons of silkworms. The Chinese managed to keep the process of
making silk a secret for hundred of years. Silk was a soft and light material much desired by
wealthy throughout the world.

Wheelbarrows are basically hand driven vehicles with two handles on the rear side for a person to
push ahead. It is mostly used in the construction industry. Wheelbarrows were use in China right
from the ancient times during the Han dynasty.

Chuko Liang was the inventor of wheelbarrow. Liang was a general who used the wheelbarrows
to transport supplies and injured soldiers. The Chinese wheelbarrows had two wheels and
required two men to drive and steer.

Other inventions. Included umbrella, iron casting, hot air balloon, matches, stirrups, to protect
and enhance certain works of art and furniture. Paper money was first developed and used in
China during the Tang dynasty.

III. Indus-Hindu Civilization

Location: Early civilization in India emerged in river valleys, the valleys of the Indus River supported a
flourishing civilization that extended hundreds of miles from the Himalayas to the coast of the Arabian
sea.
Science and Technology Development:

Two major cities were:

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1. Harappa – at its height Harappa had 35,000 inhabitants

2. Mohenjo- Daro- had perhaps 35,000 to 40,000 inhabitants.
Both cities were planned carefully, most buildings were constructed of mud bricks baked in oven and
were square shaped, forming a grid pattern.
Evidence showed that Indus valley civilization have public wells provided with regular supply of water
for all the inhabitants and sanitation. All houses had their own private toilet which was connected to a
covered sewer network constructed on brickwork held together with a gypsum-based mortar that emptied
into the surrounding or a cesspit. Also evident was the presence of public and private baths , sewage and
sophisticated water management.

Aryabhata- In 500 AD, he presented astronomical and mathematical system that took the earth to spin on
its axis and considered the motions of the planes with respect to the sun (heliocentric) are elliptical. He
also made an accurate approximation of the Earth’s circumference and diameter, and also discovered how
the lunar eclipse and solar eclipse happen for the first time. He also propounded the Heliocentric theory
of gravitation, thus predating Copernicus by almost one thousand years.

Brahmagupta (598-668) was the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain; estimated in the 7 th
century that the circumference of earth was 5000 yojanas or the estimated of 36,000 km which comes
quite close to the actual circumference known today. He had said about gravity that “Bodies fall towards
the Earth as it is in the nature of the earth to attract bodies , just as it is in the nature of water flow.” He
also made calculations of eclipses of the Sun and the Moom.
Solar Eclipse
A happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means
during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark.

During a lunar eclipse, Earth gets in the way of the sun’s light hitting the moon. That means that during
the night, a full moon fades away as Earth’s shadow covers it up.
The moon can also look reddish because Earth’s atmosphere absorbs the other colors while it bends
some sunlight toward the moon. Sunlight bending through the atmosphere and absorbing other colors is
also why sunsets are orange and red.
In 1984, Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to go to outer space.
The Hindus use a system of 27 or 28 Nakshatras (lunar constellations) to calculate a month. Each month
can be divided into 30 lunar tithis (days). There are usually 360 or 366 days in a year.
The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is actually one of six major observatories built by the Maharajah. The one
in Jaipur not only follows the movements of the sun and the moon to help determine auspicious dates of
events, it also helps map out the position of the stars in the sky.

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