Ibn alhaytham made significant advances in optics, mathematics and astronomy. His work on optics was characterised by a strong emphasis on carefully designed experiments to test theories and hypotheses. During his research on optics, alhaytham gravitated towards ophthalmology, the study of the anatomy of eyes. Optics was translated into latin by an unknown scholar at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the th century. Referred to as the father of modern optics, he made significant contributions to the. One of the famous scientist is ibn al haythamfather of optics.
Muslim history is full of scientists and these people changed the course of human history by their invention. Apr 29, 2017 ibn alhaytham honoured with 1001 inventions at abu dhabi book fair. He dealt at length with the theory of various physical phenomena like shadows, eclipses, the rainbow and speculated on the physical nature of light. The main work of ibn alhaytham the kitab almanadhir the book of optics was translated into latin in the middle ages, as also his book dealing with the colors of sunset. In the book of optics, ibn alhaytham was the first scientist to argue that vision occurs in the brain, rather than the eyes. More about alhaytham here read the english translation of kitab al manazir the book of optics, here. Among his original works, only those on optics, astronomy, and mathematics survive. His most famous book in arabic was on optics, kitab fi almana. In the early 11th century, alhazen ibn alhaytham wrote the book of optics kitab almanazir in which he explored.
Ibn alhaytham, who lived in the 10th and 11th centuries, made important discoveries in the field of optics. The book introduces the scientific works and achievements of ibn alhaytham who lived in the 11th century and is regarded as a pioneer in the field of optics. Jan 02, 2012 anyone who has ever used vision glasses or contact lenses, taken a picture with a camera or watched television has a reason to be thankful to the father of optics, alhazen. Deli aspecti is a sevenvolume treatise on optics and other fields of study composed by the medieval muslim scholar ibn alhaytham, known in the west as alhazen 965 c. Ibn alhaytham show launches at muscat festival 1001 inventions. Ibn al haytham alhazen was an astronomer, physicist and mathematician in the golden days of muslims.
Ibn alhaytham arab astronomer and mathematician britannica. Alhazen ibn alhaytham, born 965ce 1039ce an arab persian scientist and polymath, also significant contributions to the principals of optics, as well as to physics, anatomy, astronomy, engineering, mathematics, medicine, ophthalmology, philosophy, psychology, visual perception, and to science in general with his early application of the scientific method. Sep 01, 2020 alhaythams book of optics, penned circa 1027, also known as opticae thesaurus in latin, has been one of his most influential works. Ibn alhaytham, the arab who brought greek optics into focus. Children in berlin excited to meet ibn alhaytham 1001. Ibn alhaytham and psychophysics muslim heritagemuslim. Having his work available in latin proved influential on scholars writing during the middle ages and renaissance, including roger bacon, johannes kepler and even leonardo da vinci, thus significantly contributing to the intellectual legacy. Ibn alhaytham is considered by some to be the founder of psychophysics and experimental psychology, for his pioneering work on the psychology of visual perception. The book of optics mindlinkss log on brain and mind. Ibn al haytham is regarded as the father of modern optics for his influential book of optics which proved the intromission theory of vision and refined it into essentially its modern form. When ibn alhaythams book of optics was translated into latin it had great influence and was widely studiedread.
Building on ptolemy and euclid, arab astronomer and physicist hasan ibn alhaytham latinized alhazen made significant contributions to the principles of optics and visual perception, his most influential work being his kitab almanazir book of optics, written during 10111021, which only survived in the present latin edition. The book of optics by ibn alhaytham in the first half of the eleventh century, and not the elements of psychophysics by fechner in the nineteenth century, marks the official founding of psychology because it provides not only new concepts and theories, but new methods of measurement in psychology khaleefa 1999, page 23. The educational initiative celebrates the legacy of ibn alhaytham, the 11th century pioneer from arabia. A journey of science from darkness into light celebrating 11 th century scientist alhassan ibn al.
Ibn alhaytham alhacen wrote about the effects of pinhole and concave lenses in his book of optics,5556 which was influential in the development of the modern telescope. Nov 18, 2007 somewhere between 965 1039 lived ibn alhaytham abu. This is an excellent addition to a superb childrens nonfiction series. May 25, 2020 alhaythams book of optics, penned circa 1027, also known as opticae thesaurus in latin, has been one of his most influential works. The book of optics is a sevenvolume treatise on optics and other fields of study composed by the medieval arab scholar ibn alhaytham, known in the west as alhazen or alhacen 965 c. The show and book are a tribute to 11th century pioneering scientific thinker ibn alhaytham, and are part of a global. Nov 06, 2017 ibn alhaytham honoured with 1001 inventions at abu dhabi book fair. Ibn alhaytham was born in basra, but made his career in cairo, where he supported himself copying scientific manuscripts. The famous scientist ibn alhaytham alhazen has rightly been credited with many advances in optics and vision science, but recent spurious claims that he is the founder of psychophysics rest upon unsupported assertions, a conflation. The man who discovered how we see at the abu dhabi international book fair adibf. In that regard he was following a procedure somewhat similar to the one modern scientists adhere to in their investigative research. An edition and english translation of ibn alhaythams kitab almunazarat.
Ibn alhaythams most famous work is his seven volume arabic treatise on optics, kitab almanazir book of optics, written from 1011 to 1021. Vith the method he introduced to the rvodd, al haythanl used experimental evidence to develop a remarkably accurate theory of vision. On direct vision books two volume set studies of the warburg institute alhaytham, ibn, sabra, professor abdelhamid i on. Ibn alhaytham book in arabic now available in the uae 1001. Front page of a latin edition of alhazens thesaurus opticus, showing how archimedes set on fire the roman ships before syracuse with the help of parabolic mirrors the book of optics template. Kitab al manazir book of optics by ibn alhaytham, istanbul, his surviving works are on mathematics, 23 of them are eleventh century. His most important single work is the comprehensive kitab almanazir the book of optics. It was published as a print edition in 1572 by friedrich risner with the title opticae thesaurus so that it could be made more easily available. Considered by many as the father of optics he made important contributions to the understanding of vision, optics and light. It was translated anonymously in the 12th and th centuries. Optics of ibn al haytham ptolemys authoritative book optics in the greek as well as much of the arabic translation, was lost by the tenth century. Greek theorieswere largely appropdated by islamic scholarsuntil the first quarter of the 11ihcentury,when a new method of inquiry rvasintroduced by ibn scientific al haytham.
Join the 1001 inventions social media contest and travel back to fascinating ancient times with ibn alhaytham, the 11th century pioneer from arabia, who made remarkable contributions to the understanding of light, optics and vision. Today, many consider him a pivotal figure in the history of optics and the father of modern optics. Medieval arab scholar ibn alhaytham and the book of optics. Sabra, introduction to the optics of ibn alhaytham.
This launch comes as part of a special show organised by 1001 inventions in partnership with adibf to honour ibn alhaytham at this years edition in celebration of its main theme reading the past to define the future. Ibn alhaytham alhazen father of optics history of islam. Book of optics alhazens most famous work is his sevenvolume treatise on optics kitab almanazir book of optics, written from 1011 to 1021 optics was translated into latin by an unknown scholar at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the th century. Optics was translated into latin by an unknown scholar at the end of. He is known for his theories on visual perception and optics. I sabra stated, ibn al haythams most important contributions were in the fields of optics, mathematics, and astronomy. The earliest evidence of a magnifying device, a convex lens forming a magnified image, also dates back to his book of optics. He may even have been the first person to use the scientific method. Indeed, the influence of ibn alhaythams optics ranks alongside that of newtons work of the same title, published 700 years later. The father of modern optics ibn alhaythams book of optics.
How a 10thcentury muslim physicist discovered how humans see. Ibn alhaytham archives muslim heritagemuslim heritage. During the international year of light 2015, ibn alhaytham was celebrated at. New childrens book with national geographic kids showcased. Alhacen, alhasan ibn alhaytham, alhaytham, alhazen. In mathematics, ibn alhaytham built on the math in addition to the book of optics, ibn alhaytham ematical works of euclid and habit ibn qurra, and wrote a supplement entitled risala i ldaw treatise went on to systemize ininitesimal calculus, conic sec on light. Born in basra, iraq, in 354 ah 965 ce alhaytham rose in prominence as an acclaimed scientist before being invited by the fatimid caliph to cairo, egypt where he spent the remainder of his days. Ibn alhaytham and psychophysics by craig aaenstockdale published on.
It has been ranked alongside isaac newtons philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica as one of the most influential books in physics for introducing an early scientific method, and for initiating a revolution in optics and visual perception. The polish astronomer johannes hevelius chose to honour ibn alhaytham, alongside. Ibn alhaitham until the revival of optics in persia, towards the end of the th century, ibn alhaythm was mainly known. He set new standards in experimental science and completed his influential book of optics sometime around 1027. W hile not counted among the g r eates t arab astronomers, his wor ks show that he had mastered the tech. Ibn alhaytham the first scientist origin of the camera. Ibn alhaytham book in arabic now available in the uae. The author talks extensively about his principal book titled kitab almanazir the book of optics and discusses the great extent of his influence on the muslim and western worlds. The book of optics is a sevenvolume treatise on optics and other fields of study composed by the medieval arab scholar ibn alhaytham, known in the west as. Ibn alhaytham article about ibn alhaytham by the free. Ibn alhaytham show launches at muscat festival 1001. Ibn alhaytham, made major contributions to the fields of optics, mathematics, and physics. Jan 19, 2016 the book is a special tribute to the 11th century pioneering scientific thinker alhasan ibn alhaytham known in the west by the latinized form of his first name alhazen.
362 1286 1760 162 621 1422 121 1804 1583 120 706 311 1320 153 1063 1646 1163 163 1153 1607 745 200 1735 1606 224 650 1095