500th Anniversary of the Birth of Taqī al-Dīn Rāṣid
- Mathematical Sciences and Technology in the Sixteenth-Century Mediterranean –
2-4 December 2026 Istanbul
About
The sixteenth century was one of the most crucial periods in the history of the mathematical sciences and technology. It witnessed both the formation and the outcomes of numerous milestones, ranging from paradigm shifts in classical cosmological doctrines to advances in mathematical precision, the rise of metrology, calendar reforms, and the accelerating transmission of knowledge between the Islamic world and Europe. During this century, both the mathematical sciences and technology flourished through the work of highly capable scholars, who often benefited from adequate patronage and relatively independent research environments. Scholarly mobility across cultures and regions assumed a new dimension during this period. Although this phenomenon has not been sufficiently studied, surviving written records offer glimpses of platforms for active debate and potential collaboration among scholars in the Mediterranean world. One of the key figures from the Ottoman realm in this regard was Taqī al-Dīn ibn Maʿrūf, famously known as Taqī al-Dīn Rāṣid. He was a polymath who worked extensively across various branches of science, particularly mathematics, automata, astronomy, astronomical instrumentation, and optics.
As both a theoretical thinker and a practical inventor, he was a pioneer in several areas of research. One of the most intriguing features of his work is the presence of clear traces of knowledge transmission in his writings and inventions. In 2026, marking the five-hundredth anniversary of his birth, we commemorate this prominent scholar through an academic gathering.
This symposium, however, aims not only to highlight Taqī al-Dīn’s polymathic legacy through new research, but also to foster a deeper cultural and intellectual contextualisation of the sixteenth-century Mediterranean through focused and interdisciplinary approaches.
Symposium Topics
The symposium aims to focus on the history of the mathematical sciences and technology in both the Ottoman realm and Europe during the sixteenth century. We therefore invite papers on the following topics.
- Intellectual biography of Taqī al-Dīn al-Rāṣid
- Works of Taqī al-Dīn al-Rāṣid
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Number theory
- Surveying
- Theoretical astronomy
- Zīj tradition
- Practical astronomy
- Calendars
- Astronomical Instruments
- Theoretical mechanics
- Handasa (Hiyal tradition)
- Metrology
- Military technologies
- Geography
- Cartography
- Optics
- Philosophy of ‘science’
- Transmission of scientific knowledge
- Scientific institutions
Abstract Submission
You can download the submission form from this link.