 Global Connections The Middle East Communities Respond
Educator's Resources Maps Glossary Search: Connecting Questions
Explore a Theme Timeline Politics Religion Economics Culture
Geography Science In October 2001, Dubai hosted Gitex, the
Middle East's largest annual information technology exhibition.
© Reuters NewMedia Inc./CORBIS E-mail a Friend Science &
Technology: Historic Innovation, Modern Solutions  Cutting-edge
science in the Middle East  Following the rise of Islam in the
seventh century C.E., science and technology flourished in the
Islamic world to a far greater extent than they did in the West.
Muslim rulers promoted the translation of Greek philosophy and
science texts, and then encouraged further scientific
exploration in numerous fields, among them mathematics,
astronomy, medicine, pharmacology, optics, chemistry, botany,
philosophy, and physics.  In mathematics, Muslim scholars
introduced the use of zero, solutions to quadratic equations --
even the Arabic word "algebra."  Muslim astronomers