Contents

Preface vii

1   The Islamic Scientific Tradition: Question of Beginnings I      1

2   The Islamic Scientific Tradition: Question of Beginnings II      27

3   Encounter with the Greek Scientific Tradition      73

4   Islamic Astronomy Defines Itself: The Critical Innovations      131

5   Science between Philosophy and Religion: The Case of Astronomy      171

6   Islamic Science and Renaissance Europe: The Copernican Connection      193

7   Age of Decline: The Fecundity of Astronomical Thought      233

Notes and References      257

Bibliography      289

Index      307