Museum Of The History Of Science And Technology In Islam

Brıngıng the outstandıng contrıbutıons of ıslamıc culture ın the hıstory of scıence to vısıtors, the ıstanbul museum of the history of science and technology in islam was founded ın 2008 ın the grounds of gülhane park, one of ıstanbul’s lovelıest locatıons.

Museum Of The History Of Science And Technology In Islam

The museum was opened in 2008 and is situated in the former Imperial Stables building in Gulhane Park, on the skirts of the Topkapi Palace Museum. It is set on 3,500 square meters exhibition area and showcases a total of 570 samples of tools and devices, as well as model collections. With this specialties, it is the first museum in Turkey, and second in the world after the one in Frankfurt.

Was opened in 2008 with a concept prepared by Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, an Islamic science historian. Exhibiting works, devices and tools invented and developed by Islamic scientists between the 9th and 16th centuries, the museum consists of 12 sections including astronomy, clocks and marine, war technology, medicine, mining, physics, maths and geometry, architecture and city planning, chemistry and optics, geography and cinevision screening room.

What to See

Exterior

When you enter the museum, a large globe will show up in the garden and you’ll be excited. It is a reconstruction of an important achievements along the Islamic scientific tradition. What is interesting is that the map on the globe is surprisingly has an accuracy, as it was constructed by the order of Caliph al-Ma’mun in the 9th century.

Second unique display in the garden is the Ibn-i Sina Botanical Garden that houses the 26 types of medicinal plants that are mentioned in the second volume of Ibn-i Sina’s al-Kanun fi’t-Tıbb book.

Interior

The museum of two floors. On the first floor, you’ll see loads of maps and map drawings related to Mines, Physics, Mathematics-Geometry, Urbanism and Architecture, Optics, Chemistry and Geography.

The Elephant Clock

The mechanical devices invented by al-Jazari who is considered to be the first scientist in the field of cybernetic and robotics will take you to a journey in time. He designed The Elephant Clock to show his admiration to the Universality of Islam which spread from Spain to the Middle Asia in that period. The Elephant Clock which draws attention of everyone welcomes visitors in the Entrance Hall of the museum.

On the upstairs you’ll see a Cinevision Hall where you can watch various visuals about the museum that include; Astronomy, Clock Technology, Maritime, Combat Technology and Medicine Department.

Astronomy Section

Astronomy is accepted as one of the oldest science in the world. In this section, miniatures of important observatories of the Islamic Period, astrolabes, world globes and measuring sets are exhibited. Clock and Marine Section Sun dials which indicate the time by means of a shadow, clocks designed by al-Jazari and al-Biruni, mechanical clocks by Taqial-din who is one of the most important astronomers of the Ottoman Period, chandelier clock, the Andalusian candle clock with twelve doors and marine equipment are displayed in this section. Physics Section Tools and devices described in the book “Kitabü’l-Hıyel” of al-Jazari are shown in scale models in this section.Other than the pycnometer which determines the specific gravity numerically of al-Biruni, helical pump, 6 piston pump, door bolt with 4 bolts, perpetuum mobile, scissors shaped elevator and block and tackle pulley system are also among the displays.

And also in all the exhibition halls of the museum, you’ll see models belonging to the works of Islamic scientists.

Some of the must-see examples of copies of some of the inventions of Islamic Civilization include;

A copy of the World Map drawn by Al-Idrisi based on the map of Caliph al-Me,

Takiyeddin’s Mechanical Clock, from the year 1559,

Elephant Clock and Hacamati, from the book of Al-Cezeri (from the year 1200),

Abu Said Es-Siczi’s Planetarium,

Abdurrahman es-Sufi’s Celestial Sphere,

Khidr al-Hucendi’s Usturlab,

Minute Scale working by Abdurrahman al-Hazini from the 12th century,

Ibn-i Sinai’s Al-Qa’n fi’t Tıbb Medical Book.

HOW TO GO?
The Museum is located in the building of the former Imperial Stables of the Topkapı Palace, in the Gülhane Park. The Museum can be reached from the main gate to Gülhane Park near the Aya Sofya or from the opposite gate at the Sahil Yolu (Kennedy Caddesi) near the Saray Burnu.

Address: Has Ahırlar Binaları. Gülhane Parkı. Sirkeci/Eminönü İstanbul/Türkiye

Phone: +90 212 528 8065