Throughout history, a few scholars have devoted their entire lives to rediscovering humanity’s forgotten knowledge. Among them stands Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, one of the most influential historians of science in the modern era. His life’s mission was to uncover, document, and demonstrate the immense scientific contributions of Muslim scholars to global civilization.
Inspired by the prophetic saying, “Scholars are the lamps of the earth,” Sezgin dedicated decades of tireless research to illuminating a largely overlooked chapter of human intellectual history — the scientific achievements of the Islamic world.
Early Life
Fuat Sezgin was born on October 24, 1924, in Bitlis, specifically in the area known as Kızıl Mescid.
His father, Mirza Mehmet Efendi, and his mother, Cemile Hanım, came from a family whose roots trace back to the Şirvan district of Siirt. For generations, his ancestors served the Ottoman Empire as regional leaders known as Şirvan Beys.
From an early age, Sezgin displayed a strong dedication to learning. He began his primary education in Doğubeyazıt in 1936. After the passing of his father, he continued his studies in Bitlis, completing secondary school through a scholarship program that allowed him to pursue education despite challenging circumstances.
The Turning Point
In 1943, Sezgin moved to Istanbul with the intention of studying mathematics and engineering. However, his life took a decisive turn when he attended a lecture by the renowned German orientalist Hellmut Ritter at Istanbul University.
The lecture profoundly influenced him. Realizing the vast and unexplored intellectual heritage contained in Arabic manuscripts, Sezgin decided to devote his life to the study of Islamic scientific history.
Under Ritter’s mentorship, he began an extraordinary academic journey that would eventually redefine global understanding of medieval science.
Rediscovering a Lost Scientific Heritage
For decades, Sezgin traveled across libraries and archives throughout the Middle East and Europe, examining thousands of manuscripts written by Muslim scholars between the 8th and 16th centuries.
His research revealed that Muslim scientists had made groundbreaking contributions in fields such as:
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Astronomy
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Mathematics
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Medicine
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Chemistry
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Geography
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Engineering
These discoveries challenged the long-held belief that scientific progress had paused between ancient Greek science and the European Renaissance.
Monumental Works
One of Sezgin’s greatest achievements is his monumental bibliographic work:
Geschichte des Arabischen Schrifttums
This extensive multi-volume series documents thousands of Arabic scientific manuscripts and the scholars behind them. The work has become an essential reference for historians of science around the world.
Institutions and Museums
To make this knowledge accessible to the public, Sezgin founded several institutions dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Islamic scientific achievements.
Among them is the Institute for the History of Arabic-Islamic Science in Frankfurt, established in 1982.
Here, hundreds of historical scientific instruments were reconstructed based on descriptions found in ancient manuscripts.
Later, he contributed to the creation of the Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam, which displays detailed replicas of these instruments — offering visitors a vivid glimpse into the technological sophistication of medieval Islamic civilization.
Legacy
Fuat Sezgin devoted nearly seven decades of his life to research, writing, and teaching. His work fundamentally transformed how historians understand the development of global science.
He passed away on June 30, 2018, in Istanbul, leaving behind an extraordinary intellectual legacy.
Today, his work continues to inspire scholars and researchers worldwide, reminding us that the history of science is not the achievement of a single culture, but the shared heritage of humanity.
Explore the Complete Collection
This astrolabe is part of a broader collection of reconstructed scientific instruments that reflect the rich legacy of Islamic astronomy and engineering. The models were developed based on original manuscripts and historical sources preserved in major libraries and museums.
To explore the full documentation and learn more about these remarkable instruments, you can access the complete publication here:
Download the full book:
https://www.ibtav.org/ar/ozgecmisi/
