Mathematical Instrumentation in Fourteenth-Century Egypt and Syria — The Illustrated Treatise of Najm Al-Din Al-Misri

This book contains the original Arabic and translated English of an anonymous 14th century Mamluk treatise on the construction of astronomical instruments, which Charette has attributed to astronomer Najm al-Din al-Misri. Mostly dealing with astrolabes, quadrants, and sundials, the treatise gave construction instructions for some 100 different instruments. Also included is a 174 page historical and technical commentary organized by category of instrument. Eighteen illustrative plates show the original drawings of astrolabes and other instruments. By virtue of this work's publication, Charette hopes to increase the "historiographical eminence" of the study of instrumentation in Islamic civilization. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Francois Charette, Dr.Phil. nat. (2001) in History of Science, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology, MIT. His work deals with the history of astronomy and scientific instrumentation in Islam.