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Ibn Bajja's Affect on the History of Astronomy

He also openly criticized the lack of evidence of other claims made by Ptolemy, such as the very existence of retrograde motion. He argued that if two celestial bodies were moving around the same center, then there is no logical reason for them to be orbiting in different directions.

Geocentric Universe

A theory which suggests that the center of the universe is either at or near the Earth.

Ibn Bajja's Criticisms of The Ptolemaic Model

Heliocentric Universe

A theory which suggests that the center of the universe is either at or near the Sun.

Importance in European Identity

A few Terms to Remember

Like modern scientists, Ibn Bajja felt that epicycles were simply bad science. He criticized that they were an explanation not based on evidence and that they weren't satisfactory.

The story of Copernicus is one that most people know. A long time ago, everyone thought the Earth was the center of the universe until a guy named Copernicus came and changed everything with his heliocentric model of the universe. It's a theory that was a hallmark in human development. We were beginning to understand the world a bit.

Epicycle- A revolution which occurs within the normal orbit of a planet.

Reterograde and Prograde Motion

Prograde Motion- the motion of a planet in the same direction as other nearby celestial bodies.

Retrograde Motion- the movement o fa planet in the opposite direction as other nearby celestial bodies.

Ptolemy, Copernicus, and the beginnings of Modern Science

It is impossible to have a

discussion on astronomy without bringing up these two, Ptolemy and Copernicus. Both famous for their planetary models, the general story dictating that one was the paradigm altering theorist who invalidated the other.

Everyday Life

Because of the powerful impact this theory had on the people's understanding of the universe and the fact that it was in contrast to church teachings, this could also be marked as the beginning of the loss of intellectual ground of religious institutions.

Importance to Science

This is also an important topic within the history of science as it is marked as the first major paradigm change of modern European science and marked the slow beginning of the modern scientific age.

Ibn Bajja

Ptolemy's Model

Within the Islamic culture which was so scientifically prosperous came a brilliant scientist by the name of Ibn Bajja.

Ptolemy suggested a geocentric universe in which apparent retrograde motion could be explained by the existence of epicycles.

Cross Cultural Communication

Islamic Science

Islamic scholars Maimondes and Averroes translated the works of Ibn Bajja and brought them to Spain, where they were introduced to the European public.

Ptolemy's Geocentric Model

Muslim science originates with the seeking and translating of the ancient Greek philosophical texts of Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, etc. A massive university/library structure formed in the heart of Baghdad as a result: The House of Wisdom

Before we dive into Ibn Bajja's criticisms of the geocentric model, let's have an explanation as to what it is.

Islamic Astronomy and Medieval Spain by Julio Samso

Isis, Vol. 86, No. 3 (Sep., 1995), pp. 475-476

Late Medieval Planetary Theory

E. S. Kennedy

Isis, Vol. 57, No. 3 (Autumn, 1966), pp. 365-37

The Andalusian Revolt Against Ptolemaic Astronomy. Sabra, A.I.

His Criticisms of Ptolemaic Planetary Theory

He felt that the geocentric model for the universe, which was the common narrative at the time, did not hold up to scientific scrutiny when closely examined.

European Science Did Not Exist in a Vacuum!

Evidence

Copernicus didn't magically contemplate the heliocentric theory of the universe one day. His theory was based heavily on findings from Middle Eastern astronomers who had already behun to question the validity of the geocentric paradigm.

Ptolemy's theory was fairly sound based on the evidence presented to him in his lifetime. With the perceived stationary status of the Earth, the apparent retrograde motion of the smaller planets within the solar system, and the lack of a substantial theory of gravity to explain what binds the planets together.

A True Renaissance Man

A man of many talents, Ibn Bajja studied a variety of academic disciplines within his life. He was a physician, and astronomer, a botanist, a musician, a poet, and a philosopher.

This Narrative Also Incomplete

This introduction to doubt of the established planetary theory resulted in further research being conducted. It was this doubt, this lack of certainty, which influenced Copernicus to attempt to understand the nature of the planets and publish his heliocentric theory.

As this event is presented in most history and even many astronomy classes, it would appear that this occured as an isolated event outside the sinfluence of other cultures within the time, however the heliocentric theory was very highly influenced by Middle Eastern scholars, especially Ibn Bajja(Avempace).

Science: A Global Endeavor

It is a common misconception that science was born in Europe and had not existed prior to the establishment of the modern scientific method. Though this is true in the strictest of senses, all societies had a need for understanding the natural world and had employed various for scientific methodology long before Copernicus.

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