The translation movement
Greek, Persian and Indian learning is systematically translated into Arabic.
- When
- —
- Duration
- 114 years
- Known to
- ± 20 years
- Era
- Post-Classical, Holocene
Under Abbasid patronage from the late eighth century, an enormous translation programme renders Greek philosophy, medicine, mathematics and astronomy — along with Persian and Sanskrit works — into Arabic, often via Syriac, with translators paid handsomely. Much of Aristotle, Galen, Euclid and Ptolemy survives because of it. Christian, Jewish, Sabian and Zoroastrian scholars all took part. It is deliberate state-funded preservation on a scale not attempted before.