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Chapter 3 The Path to Halley

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The Banū Mūsā text is central to our story, as it was Halley’s principal source for his edition of Books V–VII and the basis of his reconstruction of Book VIII. The manuscript was acquired sometime in the middle of the 9th century by the three sons of Mūsā b. Shākir, Muḥammad, Aḥmad, and al-Ḥasan, otherwise known simply as the Banū Mūsā, “The sons of Mūsā.” Under the sponsorship of the Banū Mūsā, the text was translated into Arabic by Thābit b. Qurra (836–901). The Greek original, subsequently, was lost, leaving to posterity only this Arabic version of Books V–VII. However, there was a long and crucial delay until even this Arabic translation of the later books of the Conics became fully available to mathematically minded readers in the Latin west.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences
PublisherSpringer
Pages13-15
Number of pages3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2012

Publication series

NameSources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences
ISSN (Print)2196-8810
ISSN (Electronic)2196-8829

Keywords

  • Ancient Text
  • Arabic Version
  • Classical Mathematic
  • Classical Text
  • Thirteenth Century

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mathematics (miscellaneous)
  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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