What is the repository of manuscripts in Baghdad? Years of existence and description of the object

The storehouse of manuscripts in Baghdad is also called "House of Wisdom". This institution was founded here at the dawn of the very religion of the East - Islam, but it did not last long. Initially, scientists from various countries came here who could give the people of Baghdad some knowledge in the field of science. They left here their own experiences, which were collected in books and filed for further storage. During the constant wars that were waged between the powers in those days, this greatest treasure of knowledge was destroyed, and all the ancient manuscripts compiled by thinkers were thrown into the river Tigris.

Prehistory

In the 8th century, the Abbasid dynasty overthrew the ruling Umayyads, who ruled the lands of Mesopotamia. The capital of the country at that time was in the city of Mecca, which was considered a refuge for the Prophet Muhammad and all his followers. The new government, barely having won, moved the capital to Baghdad, and it was from then on that the city began to grow literally before our eyes. The main goal of the Abbasids was to make "New Alexandria" from Baghdad. That is why the works of various philosophers, scientists, mathematicians and researchers began to be brought here from all parts of Europe and Asia. Thus, a kind of repository of manuscripts was established in Baghdad, which for a time contained a mere collection of scrolls and parchments composed in a variety of languages, including the dead.

The first steps to systematization

The founder of this "House of Wisdom", which in his native language was called "Bait Al-Hikma", was Al-Mamun, who, in fact, conquered the city of Baghdad. In his refuge of all knowledge, he hired the best scientists and translators of Mesopotamia who worked here day and night. They were sorting through ancient manuscripts composed by philosophers and mathematicians from India, Greece, Italy, Spain. Sometimes even came across records composed by the barbaric peoples of Northern Europe. Also their task was to translate these data into Arabic, with which they coped brilliantly. So al-Mamun had a library that contained the knowledge of the peoples of the civilized world at that time.

Development of the House of Wisdom

As it turned out, the most interesting branch of science at that time was mathematics and all the disciplines that followed from it - astronomy, metaphysics, chemistry, etc., because the House of Wisdom worked under the supervision of the best mathematician - al-Khorezmi, who directed and educated all other connoisseurs . Since all scientists started working together, the repository of manuscripts in Baghdad has become a real research center. Here new formulas were derived, new quantities and figures were born. For astronomers, a lot of opportunities were opened up after the knowledge acquired by different peoples was compared.

Based on what the workings of Arab scientists were built?

Each ancient manuscript, which fell into the House of Wisdom, became the subject of careful study for the Arabs. Basically, they relied on the works of such well-known ancient authors as Diofant of Alexandria, Aristotle, Euclid, Ptolemy, Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galen and others. The work of the first four philosopher-scientists enabled the Arabs to make a huge leap in mathematics and astronomy. They constructed algebraic logarithms and systems of calculus, all possible geometric procedures and formulas for computing areas and volumes. It is also the Arab scholars who are credited with such a discovery as progression - mathematical and geometric. In the future, based on the knowledge and experiences conducted here, mathematics has arisen in Europe, which we now use. As for the last three ancient sages, it was on the basis of their findings that a new Arab medicine was developed.

Developments in the field of astronomy

The repository of manuscripts in Baghdad has also become a new space observatory. The impetus for the study of celestial bodies was the knowledge not of ancient, but of Indian scientists, who had already advanced the hypothesis that the Earth has its parallels and meridians. It was in the suburbs of Baghdad that Arab researchers working on these astronomical works attempted to measure the arc length of 1 degree meridian. This event was a success, as all the calculations turned out to be correct.

Destruction of the House of Wisdom

The Mongol-Tatar yoke, which took place in the 13th century, did not bypass Mesopotamia. In 1258, on February 12, the local greatest repository of manuscripts was completely destroyed by the army under the leadership of Khan Khulagu. Many scientists who worked here were killed, others taken prisoner, some managed to escape, taking with them part of those manuscripts that were there. Everything that fell into the hands of the bloodthirsty Mongols was either burned or drowned in the waters of the Tigris River. There is a theory that some scientists who managed to escape from Baghdad at that time settled in Istanbul, where they were able to apply their knowledge and give them a new life.