Discussion: Why did the Islamic world fail to achieve the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions? Case in point: The story of Takiyüddin Efendi

4.1. Takiyüddin Efendi, the Istanbul observatory and their demise

Tycho's observations were very important because

their accuracy far surpassed any previous
accurate enough for Kepler to distinquish betveen circular and elliptical orbits.

Kepler's laws helped Newton

Newton's laws started Physics

Out of physics grew the industrial revolution, eventually, modern technology.

At the same time, a very similar observatory existed in Istanbul

Director: Taküyiddin Efendi, Turkish astronomer and mathematician

born 1526 in Cairo (S. Tekeli writing for Türk Ansiklopedisi) or possibly 1521 in Damascus
taught at a madrasa in Cairo
in 1571, appointed chief astrologer (müneccimbasi)

Love-hate relationship between astronomy and astrology

Astrology, although strongly condemned by theologians, held sway among people and rulers.
Astronomers obtained support via astrology.

Taküyiddin pointed out that the astronomical tables (zij) were outdated, proposed construction of an observatory.

Supported by Hoca Sa'düddin Efendi (teacher of Sultan Murad III) and Sokollu Mehmed Pasha (the grand vizier)
Construction started 1575, finished 1577 (Thyco's Uraniborg: 1576)

His instruments were much superior two any used before.

He invented several new instruments
which are very similar to Thyco's new ones.

Taküyiddin calculated solar parameters using the "three-point method"

known in Islamic world since al-Biruni
first used in the West by Copernicus & Thyco
Takuyiddin's results were better.

Made contributions to mathematics, and construction of accurate mechanical clocks.

The End:

(One version) When the comet of 1577 (The same comet was observed by Tycho as well) appeared, the Sultan wanted to know if this was a good omen for the upcoming Persian campaign, or a bad one. Takiyüddin Efendi predicted victory. The army indeed emerged victorious, but when they were on their way back, an epidemic of the plague spread in the country, and decimated the army as well.

Whatever the reason, $eyhülislam (chief religious adviser of the Sultan) Ahmed $emseddin Efendi, who saw Hoca Sa'düddin Efendi as a rival, claimed that wherever observatories were constructed and men dared to pry into the secrets of the heavens, divine punishment resulted in the form of natural disasters, epidemics or wars. He used the rapid collapse of Ulugh Beg's empire and the current situation as examples.

The Sultan got scared and in 1579 (80?) ordered the observatory demolished. This order was executed by the Navy, which destroyed the observatory by cannon fire.

The eventual fate of Takiyuddin Efendi seems to be uncertain; Türk Ansiklopedisi gives his death with a questionmark (Istanbul 1585?).

The Istanbul Observatory was the last great observatory in Islam. With its demolition, leadership in astronomy passed over completely to Europe.

4.2. The stranglehold of scholastic thought. Why?

The ninth and tenth centuries were the golden age of Islamic civilization.

One Thousand and One Nights

While Europe was held in the grip of the dark ages, Islamic scientists were

calculating the radius of the earth,
inventing algebra and developing trigonometry,
treating mental disorders,
.
.
.

But, after Farabi (d. 948) and Ibni Sina (d. 1037, known in the West as Avicenna), Islam produced no scientists or philosophers of similar caliber.

Even the Ottoman Empire, failed to produce even one significant scientist.

Stagnation took form of scholasticism

Theologians classified the fields of learning into revelational (nakli) and rational (akli) sciences
Glorified revelational, bellited rational sciences, esp. philosophy
best expression (by Al-Ghazali): "Reason is not a good enough guide, and is bound to lead one astray".

Also, the way of life adapted by large multitudes: to live as frugally as possible ("bir lokma bir hIrka" - own nothing but one bite to eat, one jacket to wear)

Recipe complete: Scholasticism rejected reason, mysticism rejected reason and authority, and praised ultrafrugality. Worldly possessions and knowledge were both undesirable, therefore there was no need for science or technology.

Why the change?

Three main reasons put forward;

Crusades

Intrinsic reasons (mostly Al - Ghazali)

Mongol invasion

Crusades

Physical destruction
These people have gone to such lengths for their faith, why not us?

Intrinsic reasons (mostly Al - Ghazali)

The science historian Sachau writes "... But for Al-Ash`ari and Al-Ghazali, the Arabs [meaning the Muslims] might have been a nation of Galileos, Keplers and Newtons".
These two scholars are indeed among the most influential formulators of theological scholasticism. The question is, were the scholarly and persuasive abilities of these individuals so superior as to turn the tide against positive sciences, or was the time already ripe for scholasticism and fatalism to take root; for external or internal reasons?
AydIn SayIII investigates internal reasons and argues that the scholastic backlash was delayed because of the time taken by theology to investigate knowledge and arguments translated from ancient Greece; and then to formulate and codify itself. The backlash was, he writes, because Islam never accomplished the reconciliation of Greek Science and religion, as Europe did.

Mongol Invasion

The Mongols took Baghdad in 1258

killed hundreds of thousands of people("blood as high as horses' knees")
burned down 36 libraries
destroyed the city. "still not recovered"

Proceeded to conquer and destroy all of Eastern Islam except Cairo.

Everywhere the lands were in ruins.

The Mongols killed off inhabitants of whole cities, the fields were not worked.
Population declined.
Outlaws everywhere and local rulers trying to collect the tax due to Mongols robbed the people.
It is no coincidence that mysticism fluorished in that atmosphere, that the greatest mystic poet Yunus Emre lived during that period.

If everything you have is destroyed or taken away, it is easier and more comforting to follow teachings that ask you to divest of your possessions.
Various forms of mysticism were adopted, mostly in rural settings, surviving well into the twentieth century.

The Mongol invasion hit Islamic science directly as well.

Baghdad was the major center of civilization and learning, and other centers were also destroyed.
A lot of scientists were themselves killed,
the survivors lost their support systems, their royal patrons.
A lot of the accumulated knowledge was lost when libraries were burned down.
Hulagu, the conqueror of Baghdad, later had the Maragha Observatory constructed, but the damage was done.