1. When it absorbed Spain. It gained knowledge, culture, art, etc.
2. When it absorped the Byzantine (eastern Roman) Empire. Same thing: Knowledge of medicine, art, architecture, engineering, the lot.
Note that the Golden Age was short-lived, once they cemented themselves into power, the poor downtrodden Spaniards and Byzantines couldn't flourish anymore. And the Muslim overlord culture quickly began to fade.
As for numbers? They're HINDI. Not Arabic.
As for astronomy? Big Frackin' Deal, they had clear skies that Europe didn't have, and so they did...well, what? They named the dots of light. WHOOPEE! It was the Europeans who invented the LENS and the TELESCOPE.
As for medicine? GALEN and Greek culture got that off to a start. Hippocrates, too.
For some reason, we like to trip all over ourselves congratulating this camel-shagging barbarians for accomplishments which were, in fact, WESTERN.
2. When it absorped the Byzantine (eastern Roman) Empire. Same thing: Knowledge of medicine, art, architecture, engineering, the lot.
“ABSORBED” = CONQUER BY FORCE
” It was the Europeans who invented the LENS and the TELESCOPE.”
Actually the lens and the telescope predate both the muslims and the Europeans. Many lens finds come from pre-dynastic Egypt - much of this seems to be for eyeglasses or eye pieces to correct astigmatism, near and far sightedness.
There is evidence in classical literature that the Romans knew and used telescopes.
The reason we do not find these in well known museums is either they are in an unrelated, obscure museum, or are classified as jewelry, or never put on display.
This is a classic case of “since they didn’t invent it, they could not have had it. Therefore, the object in question is something else”. Pre-European/muslim lens exist by the thousands.
” It was the Europeans who invented the LENS and the TELESCOPE.”
Actually the lens and the telescope predate both the muslims and the Europeans. Many lens finds come from pre-dynastic Egypt - much of this seems to be for eyeglasses or eye pieces to correct astigmatism, near and far sightedness.
There is evidence in classical literature that the Romans knew and used telescopes.
The reason we do not find these in well known museums is either they are in an unrelated, obscure museum, or are classified as jewelry, or never put on display.
This is a classic case of “since they didn’t invent it, they could not have had it. Therefore, the object in question is something else”. Pre-European/muslim lens exist by the thousands.
I believe there's evidence to suggest that most, if not all of the so-called "Muslim" scientific achievements were in fact attained by captured Christian slaves, many of whom were forced to convert to Islam.