An introductory course on the development of science in Islamic Empires, some of the key achievements, and how these helped to later fuel the Renaissance in Europe.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
The course will look at the birth and expansion of Islam, and how empires fostered an environment for learning, across an area spanning from Cordoba in the West to Samarkand in the East.
By translating and assimilating knowledge from the classical world and beyond, and setting up centres for collaborative learning such as the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, we will see how scholars made pivotal advances in scientific knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age and beyond (800-1600 AD). We will look at some of the key personalities involved, and their main achievements across chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and engineering.
The course will also examine how this learning was transferred to Europe, and helped to fuel further advances in science and engineering during the Renaissance.
What will we cover?
The birth of Islam and its rapid expansion
How learning was fostered through royal patronage, knowledge centres and translation
Some key advances made across chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and engineering
The transfer of learning to Europe and the role this played in the Renaissance
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Name some key Islamic Empires and centres for learning
Identify some of the key Islamic scholars and their scientific innovations
Understand how this period was pivotal to later advances during the European Renaissance
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels, all that's needed is a curiosity and interest in science and history. This day course focuses on a particular set of contributions of the Islamic world in the area of Science & Medicine.
If you're interested in taking a broader look at many civilisational domains, you may be interested in our separate course with Tas Rahman What the Islamic Golden Age did for Us?Please note that both of these full day courses are designed to be stand-alone, so there will be some overlap in topics, particularly around the birth, expansion & decline of Islamic empires.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught by lecture with supporting presentation slides, and will be invited to participate in group and class discussion. As well as through presentation, teaching will include breakout sessions and content delivered through various audio-visual tools.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional course costs. You may wish to bring your own notetaking material.
Tas has always had a strong passion for Islamic History, Art & Architecture. This has been nurtured for decades through extensive travel across Andalucia, Sicily, North Africa, the Middle East and South & Central Asia. He’s an avid collector of Islamic art and antiques, having extensively studied the field. He has also researched the history of medieval and early-modern Islamic empires, with a particular focus on the Islamic Golden Age, which forms the basis of his course offerings at City Lit. In his career, after studying Electronic Engineering at the University of London, he has worked for almost 30 years as a Management Consultant and Programme Director in industry, implementing technology solutions for large organisations across the world.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/science-in-the-islamic-golden-age2668938Science in the Islamic Golden Agehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/s/c/science-in-the-islamic-golden-age-hs360-1080_1.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/The Middle East & North Africa/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Histories, memories & heritage2285117711781356019071228511771178<p>An introductory course on the development of science in Islamic Empires, some of the key achievements, and how these helped to later fuel the Renaissance in Europe.</p>253092389Science in the Islamic Golden Age7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/s/c/science-in-the-islamic-golden-age-hs360-1080_1_3.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-11-22T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNov 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHWH3377979Science in the Islamic Golden Age635179Tas Rahmanscience-in-the-islamic-golden-age/hwh337-2627<p>An introductory course on the development of science in Islamic Empires, some of the key achievements, and how these helped to later fuel the Renaissance in Europe.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-22 00:00:00<p>The course will look at the birth and expansion of Islam, and how empires fostered an environment for learning, across an area spanning from Cordoba in the West to Samarkand in the East.</p><p>By translating and assimilating knowledge from the classical world and beyond, and setting up centres for collaborative learning such as the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, we will see how scholars made pivotal advances in scientific knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age and beyond (800-1600 AD). We will look at some of the key personalities involved, and their main achievements across chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and engineering.</p><p>The course will also examine how this learning was transferred to Europe, and helped to fuel further advances in science and engineering during the Renaissance.</p><p>An introductory course on the development of science in Islamic Empires, some of the key achievements, and how these helped to later fuel the Renaissance in Europe.</p><ul><li>The birth of Islam and its rapid expansion</li><li>How learning was fostered through royal patronage, knowledge centres and translation</li><li>Some key advances made across chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and engineering</li><li>The transfer of learning to Europe and the role this played in the Renaissance</li></ul><ul><li>Name some key Islamic Empires and centres for learning</li><li>Identify some of the key Islamic scholars and their scientific innovations</li><li>Understand how this period was pivotal to later advances during the European Renaissance</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels, all that's needed is a curiosity and interest in science and history.<br>This day course focuses on a particular set of contributions of the Islamic world in the area of Science & Medicine.</p><p>If you're interested in taking a broader look at many civilisational domains, you may be interested in our separate course with Tas Rahman <strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/what-the-islamic-golden-age-did-for-us/hwh336-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What the Islamic Golden Age did for Us?</a> </strong>Please note that both of these full day courses are designed to be stand-alone, so there will be some overlap in topics, particularly around the birth, expansion & decline of Islamic empires.</p><p>You will be taught by lecture with supporting presentation slides, and will be invited to participate in group and class discussion. As well as through presentation, teaching will include breakout sessions and content delivered through various audio-visual tools.</p><p>There are no additional course costs. You may wish to bring your own notetaking material. </p><p>If you've previously studied a full-day course with Tas Rahman you may also be interested in studying a half-day course <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/history-in-focus-what-the-islamic-golden-age-did-for-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">History in focus: What the Islamic Golden Age did for Us</a> at the end of Term 1 (13/12/26)</p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/searchcourse/?q=Tas+Rahman" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View all of Tas Rahman's upcoming courses here.</a></p><p>You may also be interested in:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/what-the-islamic-golden-age-did-for-us/hwh336-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What the Islamic Golden Age did for us</a> (full day course)</li><li>Influential Women of the Islamic Empires</li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/medieval-medicine/hlt153-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Medieval Medicine</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/origins-of-islamic-arts-and-architecture-the-early-caliphates-661-1258-ce/vb308-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Origins of Islamic arts and architecture: the early Caliphates, 661-1258 CE</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/ways-into-islamic-art/vb512-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ways into Islamic art</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/umayyads-661-750-and-abbasids-750-1258-the-first-dynasties-that-ruled-the-islamic-world/hwh264-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Umayyads (661-750) and Abbasids (750-1258): the first dynasties that ruled the Islamic world</a></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>HistoryHistories, memories & heritageCulture, history & humanitiesHistoryThe Middle East & North Africavirtual637951HWH337NONESun22/11/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyWeekendKSKeeley StreetTas RahmanBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-11-22T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeNov 2026Culture, history & humanities7979Science in the Islamic Golden Agescience-in-the-islamic-golden-age/hwh337-2627<p>An introductory course on the development of science in Islamic Empires, some of the key achievements, and how these helped to later fuel the Renaissance in Europe.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-22 00:00:00<p>The course will look at the birth and expansion of Islam, and how empires fostered an environment for learning, across an area spanning from Cordoba in the West to Samarkand in the East.</p><p>By translating and assimilating knowledge from the classical world and beyond, and setting up centres for collaborative learning such as the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, we will see how scholars made pivotal advances in scientific knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age and beyond (800-1600 AD). We will look at some of the key personalities involved, and their main achievements across chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and engineering.</p><p>The course will also examine how this learning was transferred to Europe, and helped to fuel further advances in science and engineering during the Renaissance.</p><p>An introductory course on the development of science in Islamic Empires, some of the key achievements, and how these helped to later fuel the Renaissance in Europe.</p><ul><li>The birth of Islam and its rapid expansion</li><li>How learning was fostered through royal patronage, knowledge centres and translation</li><li>Some key advances made across chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and engineering</li><li>The transfer of learning to Europe and the role this played in the Renaissance</li></ul><ul><li>Name some key Islamic Empires and centres for learning</li><li>Identify some of the key Islamic scholars and their scientific innovations</li><li>Understand how this period was pivotal to later advances during the European Renaissance</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels, all that's needed is a curiosity and interest in science and history.<br>This day course focuses on a particular set of contributions of the Islamic world in the area of Science &amp; Medicine.</p><p>If you're interested in taking a broader look at many civilisational domains, you may be interested in our separate course with Tas Rahman <strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/what-the-islamic-golden-age-did-for-us/hwh336-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What the Islamic Golden Age did for Us?</a> </strong>Please note that both of these full day courses are designed to be stand-alone, so there will be some overlap in topics, particularly around the birth, expansion &amp; decline of Islamic empires.</p><p>You will be taught by lecture with supporting presentation slides, and will be invited to participate in group and class discussion. As well as through presentation, teaching will include breakout sessions and content delivered through various audio-visual tools.</p><p>There are no additional course costs. You may wish to bring your own notetaking material. </p><p>If you've previously studied a full-day course with Tas Rahman you may also be interested in studying a half-day course <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/history-in-focus-what-the-islamic-golden-age-did-for-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">History in focus: What the Islamic Golden Age did for Us</a> at the end of Term 1 (13/12/26)</p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/searchcourse/?q=Tas+Rahman" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View all of Tas Rahman's upcoming courses here.</a></p><p>You may also be interested in:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/what-the-islamic-golden-age-did-for-us/hwh336-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What the Islamic Golden Age did for us</a> (full day course)</li><li>Influential Women of the Islamic Empires</li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/medieval-medicine/hlt153-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Medieval Medicine</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/origins-of-islamic-arts-and-architecture-the-early-caliphates-661-1258-ce/vb308-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Origins of Islamic arts and architecture: the early Caliphates, 661-1258 CE</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/ways-into-islamic-art/vb512-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ways into Islamic art</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/umayyads-661-750-and-abbasids-750-1258-the-first-dynasties-that-ruled-the-islamic-world/hwh264-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Umayyads (661-750) and Abbasids (750-1258): the first dynasties that ruled the Islamic world</a></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>HistoryHistories, memories & heritageCulture, history & humanitiesHistoryThe Middle East & North Africaconfigurable
19071178Histories, memories & heritagehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/further-historical-studies1/2/285/1177/1178/19071/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Histories, memories & heritage
