Pioneering Scholarship:
The Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Islamic Science
Istanbul Medeniyet University's Institute for the History of Science is proud to announce its collaborative leadership in a landmark academic endeavor: the Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Islamic Science. This significant project is a key component of ISAM's (Center for Islamic Studies) ambitious Thematic Encyclopedias Project.
ISAM, a powerhouse in Islamic scholarship, completed Turkey’s most extensive encyclopedia, the Diyanet Encyclopedia of Islam, in 2016 after 33 years of meticulous effort. Committed to maintaining academic excellence and relevance, ISAM continuously updates the Diyanet Encyclopedia's content to reflect new research and contemporary findings.
Building on this legacy, ISAM conceived the Thematic Encyclopedias Project to delve into specific areas of knowledge, addressing current challenges and integrating both traditional Islamic disciplines and modern social sciences. These specialized encyclopedias aim to enrich and update knowledge across various fields.
As a vital sub-branch of this monumental initiative, the Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Islamic Science will be meticulously compiled by the Istanbul Medeniyet University Institute for the History of Science, which also serves as the project's coordinator. ISAM will handle the publication process, ensuring the widespread dissemination of this invaluable resource.
The Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Islamic Science seeks to present the systematic bodies of knowledge—developed within the classical period of Islamic civilization for the comprehension of the universe—alongside their theoretical, practical, and applied methodologies. This comprehensive work will examine these traditions through their constitutive elements, including individuals, works, subjects, concepts, objects (instruments/devices), and institutions, avoiding both anachronistic and Whiggish interpretations. The encyclopedia is based on a new periodization that transcends prior frameworks, particularly those proposed by Orientalist scholars. Rather than evaluating the history of Islamic science merely in terms of its influence on medieval Europe or its contributions to the emergence of modern Western scientific paradigms, this work aims to situate Islamic scientific traditions within their own historical and geographical contexts in a holistic manner. Accordingly, the encyclopedia will explore the intellectual traditions and representatives that influenced scientific activity in the Islamic world, while also taking into account figures, works, and themes that represent Islamic scientific traditions in regions such as China, India, and Europe. It will address not only the historical development of specific disciplines and their theoretical epistemologies, but also the socio-political dimensions of knowledge production. Particular emphasis will be placed on uncovering previously unknown figures and works by utilizing both the wealth of published research since the late 19th century and manuscript collections housed in libraries. Additionally, the encyclopedia will incorporate contemporary research methodologies in the history and philosophy of science, including new conceptual frameworks related to the philosophy of science in Islamic civilization, such as theories of natural philosophy, the ontology of mathematical objects, and the logical space of mathematical propositions. Ultimately, the Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Islamic Science aspires to provide contemporary readers with a sound and clear representation of the structured modes of knowledge production developed within the Islamic intellectual tradition.
