House of Wisdom (Bayt Al‐Hikma)
What legend is associated with the destruction of manuscripts from the House of Wisdom in the Tigris River?
According to legend, the water of the Tigris River became black because of the ink used in the manuscripts that were thrown into it.
Who were the scholars and professionals associated with Bayt Al Hikma?
Bayt Al Hikma had a diverse group of scholars and professionals, including translators, scientists, scribes, authors, writers, and copyists.
How long did Bayt al Hikma serve as the intellectual powerhouse of Islamic civilization and the Golden age of Islam?
Bayt al Hikma was the intellectual powerhouse of the Islamic civilization and the Golden age of Islam for more than 200 years.
House of Wisdom (Bayt Al‐Hikma)
By the Open Book Team
How did Caliph Al-Ma'mun reward the translators and scholars for their work?
Caliph Al-Ma'mun rewarded the translators and scholars by paying them the weight of each completed book in gold.
Who was Caliph Harun Al-Rasheed, and what was his contribution to learning centers in Baghdad?
Caliph Harun Al-Rasheed built the Khizanat Al Hikma (Library of Wisdom) in Baghdad to store and translate manuscripts and books from various cultures.
What significant role did Harun Al-Rasheed play in the field of education and learning during the 8th century?
During the 8th century, Harun Al-Rasheed built the library Khizanat Al Hikma (Library of Wisdom) in Baghdad to store and translate manuscripts and books in various fields of arts and sciences.
What role did Arabic play during the Islamic Golden Age in the context of sciences?
During the Islamic Golden Age, Arabic served as the international language of sciences.
What is Harun Al-Rasheed most famously associated with for many people?
For many people, Harun Al-Rasheed is famously associated with the Arabian Nights (Alf Lila W Lila).
How did Harun Al Rasheed expand the library to accommodate more scholars and knowledge from different cultures?
Harun Al Rasheed extended the library into a larger center, allowing scholars from diverse cultures and parts of the empire to contribute their knowledge.
What was the purpose of collecting manuscripts from various places and languages?
Harun Al-Rasheed collected manuscripts from different places and languages, including Greek, Indian, Chinese, and Persian, to enrich the knowledge available in the library.
What happened to Bayt al Hikma and its valuable manuscripts in 1258?
In 1258, the Mongols entered the city of Baghdad, and the House of Wisdom, along with many other libraries, was destroyed by the army. A significant number of books were either burnt or thrown into the Tigris River.
What were the languages spoken and used in Bayt Al-Hikma, and which language was commonly shared among the scholars?
In Bayt Al-Hikma, the languages spoken, read, and written included Arabic, Greek, Aramaic, Syriac, Latin, Farsi, Hebrew, and Indian, but Arabic was the common language.
Who were some of the mathematicians involved in the translations of mathematical works?
In the field of mathematics, translations were primarily done by Al Hajjaj bin Matar, Youhanna bin Al-Batriq Al-Turjuman, Hunayn bin Ishaq, Thabit Ibn Qurra, Ishaq bin Hunayn, and Sinan Ibn Thabit.
What languages were spoken and written in Bayt Al-Hikma, and what was the common language among scholars?
Languages spoken and written in Bayt Al-Hikma included Arabic, Greek, Aramaic, Syriac, Latin, Farsi, Hebrew, and Indian, with Arabic being the common language.
Where did many of the works of Greek scientists come from during this period?
Many of the works of Greek scientists came from libraries of the Byzantine Empire.
Who played a crucial role in rescuing a large number of manuscripts before the siege of Baghdad, and where were these manuscripts taken?
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, one of the most famous mathematicians and scientists of the 13th century, rescued about 400,000 manuscripts, which he took to Maragheh in the East region of Azerbaijan, before the siege of Baghdad.
Who were some prominent translators and scholars associated with Bayt Al Hikma?
Prominent translators and scholars included Hunayn bin Ishaq, Youhanna bin Al-Batriq Al-Turjuman, Banu Musa Brothers, Al Hajjaj Bin Matar, Abu Yousuf Ya'qoub Al Kindi, Muhammed Ibn Musa Al Khwarizmi, and Thabit Ibn Qurra.
Who were some of the prominent translators at Bayt Al Hikma?
Prominent translators at Bayt Al Hikma included individuals like Hunayn bin Ishaq (Isaac) Al'Ibadi, Youhanna bin Al-Batriq Al-Turjuman, the Banu Musa Brothers, Al Hajjaj Bin Matar, Abu Yousuf Ya'qoub Al Kindi, Muhammed Ibn Musa Al Khwarizmi, and Thabit Ibn Qurra.
What was the purpose of the House of Wisdom during the Islamic Golden Age?
The House of Wisdom served as a center for scholarship, translation, and the preservation of knowledge.
What was the impact of the Translation Movement during the Islamic Golden Age?
The Translation Movement had a significant impact, as it preserved and bridged knowledge from various civilizations, including India, Persia, China, and ancient Greece, with Western Europe. It also led to the birth of important mathematical, scientific, and philosophical concepts.
What were the major activities that took place at Bayt Al Hikma?
The major activities at Bayt Al Hikma included daily meetings for readings, writings, and discussions. However, the primary activity was the translation of collected manuscripts from their original languages into Arabic.
What were the major activities of Bayt Al Hikma during the Islamic Golden Age?
The major activities of Bayt Al Hikma included daily scholarly meetings, readings, writings, and most importantly, the translation of collected manuscripts into Arabic.
What changes occurred when Al-Ma'mun became the 7th Caliph of the Abbasid Dynasty in 813?
When Al-Ma'mun became the 7th Caliph, he expanded the library, added more centers to it, and annexed an observatory. The library transformed into a large learning house known as Bayt Al-Hikma (the House of Wisdom).