Said Al-Andalusi

Said al-Andalusí (1029–1070) was an Andalusi Muslim Qadi. He was born at Almería and died at Toledo. Said Al-Andalusi was a historian, philosopher of science and thought, and mathematical scientist with an especial interest in astronomy. He was highly interested in the science of Astronomy his claim to the recognition of the science largely rests on his encouragement and patronage. As an acclaimed Qadi in the functionary court at Toledo. He assembled a well educated group of young, precision instrument makers, astronomers and scientists, the most renowned of whom was Al-Zarqali. He was the author of the treatise Rectification of Planetary Motions and Exposition of Observers' Errors suggests the focus of his astronomical interests and of his contribution to the Tables of Toledo.

The only work of Said's to survive intact is what has often been called his “history of science”: Al‐tarif bi-tabaqat al-umm(Exposition of the generations of nations) of 1068. The “nations” here intended are those said to have had a disposition toward the cultivation of learning, such as, Indians, Persians, Chaldeans, Egyptians, Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs and Hebrews (in contrast to others not so disposed such as Arabs, Norsemen, Chinese, Africans, Russians, Alains, Turks and Berbers). He wrote other works such as: Jawāmiʿ akhbār al‐umam min al‐Arab wa‐l Ajam (Compendious history of nations – Arab and non‐Arab) and Maqālāt ahl al‐milal wa-l-nihal (Doctrines of the...
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