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Science of the Middle or Dark Ages From a. D. 700 to 1500

Astronomy.

The Arabs great astronomers, but mix up astronomy with astrology.

Physics and Mechanics. 900. Albategnius (900. Ben Musa calculates the on algebra and length of the numerals) year. 1008. Ebn Junis draws up astronomical tables. into (1000. Gerbert introduces Arabic numerals Europe.) 1030. Alhazen on refraction of light; on atmospheric reflection; on magnifying glasses. 800.

Chemistry.

Marcus Græcus makes gunpowder.

Arabian alchemists; gases called "spirit." 860. Geber, the founder of chemistry; distillation and sublimation; makes Physical Geography and Geology. nitric and sul-980. Avicenna, a phuric acid; famous writer discovers that on minerals. heating a metal adds to its weight.

Biology, Arabs learn medical science from Jews and Nestorians. 700 to 800. Medical schools of Bagdad and Salerno flourish.

Arabs devote themselves to medicine because dissection is forbidden by the Koran. 920.

Medical school of Cordova founded. 1030.

Alhazen on nature of sight; why we do not see double with two eyes. 1240.

Roger Bacon and Vitellio on cause of the rainbow. 1302. Flavio Gioja invents the mariner's compass. 1455. Invention of printing. 1480. Leonardo da Vinci makes water-mills and river-locks. 1240. Roger Bacon's experiments on air; he makes gunpowder; his "Opus Majus." 1492. discovers America.

Columbus 1497. Vasco di Gama sails round the Cape of Good Hope; sees the southern stars.