Medieval Science Images

Image 1:

ILLUSTRATION SHOWING ASTRONOMERS EMPLOYED BY THE MONGOL ILKHANS OF PERSIA MAKING CALCULATIONS, CHARTING THEIR OBSERVATIONS, AND USING ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS, EARLY FOURTEENTH CENTURY

The figure presents an illustration from the early fourteenth century. The illustration shows a group of Muslim astronomers sitting around a tree looking up at the sky while others are writing down measurements and making calculations. In the background, a book and a measuring tool are lying on the ground. Pictures from History/Bridgeman Images

Image 2:

ILLUSTRATION FROM A HEBREW TRANSLATION OF THE CANON OF MEDICINE, A MUSLIM MEDICAL TEXT. THE TRANSLATION WAS PRODUCED BY A JEWISH SCHOLAR AT THE COURT OF THE CHRISTIAN KINGS OF SICILY, CIRCA 1250

The figure presents an illustration from the thirteenth century. The illustration is divided into 3 panels. Starting at the top, and moving counterclockwise, the first panel of the illustration shows a room divided into two sections. On the left side a man is leading a horse into the room, while a man and a woman tend to a bedridden person. The right side of the first panel shows a group of 6 people surrounding another bedridden person. The second panel shows Hebrew text. The third panel shows a group of five people surrounding a bed, tending to a bedridden person. One of the people seems to be reading or dictating to the person in bed. Science History Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Identify ONE way that Image 1 illustrates an effect of Mongol rule in Eurasia.

Explain ONE likely purpose for the inclusion of Image 1 in the manuscript.

Explain ONE way that Image 2 illustrates the spread of scientific knowledge in the period before 1450.