Islamic Technology An Illustrated History [Paperback]

In this lavishly illustrated 1986 survey, two distinguished historians and engineers assess the major achievements of Islamic civilisation.In this lavishly illustrated 1986 survey, two distinguished historians and engineers assess the major achievements of Islamic civilisation. They examine the public works of civil engineering, the machines and mechanical devices which served to control water, provide power, serve as instruments or to amuse.In this lavishly illustrated 1986 survey, two distinguished historians and engineers assess the major achievements of Islamic civilisation. They examine the public works of civil engineering, the machines and mechanical devices which served to control water, provide power, serve as instruments or to amuse.Although the contributions of Islamic civilisations to science have long been recognised, the application of this scientific expertise to technology had been neglected until the publication of this then pioneering 1986 text. The book begins to remedy that neglect, first by celebrating the richness and ingenuity of the world of Islamic technology and then by pointing the way forward to its more detailed exploration. Lavishly illustrated, this book explores the major technological achievements of Islamic civilisations, namely the public works of civil engineering, the machines and mechanical devices which served to control water, provide power, serve as instruments or to amuse.List of illustrations; Preface and acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Mechanical engineering; 3. Civil engineering; 4. Military technology; 5. Ships and navigation; 6. Chemical technology; 7. Textiles, paper and leather; 8. Agriculture and food technology; 9. Mining and metallurgy; 10. Engineers and artisans; 11. Epilogue; Selected bibliography; Credits and permissions; Index.'& a wide-ranging survey of the technology used by Muslims in the Medieval period - and also today & It deserves to succeed in bringing its subject to a new audience in the West as lI