Die Istanbuler Handschrift Ayasofya 4832

Meteorologische Themen und Methoden im Bagdad des 3./9. und 4./10. Jahrhunderts

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the mete­orological material contained in one of the most impor­tant Arabic manuscripts in the history of science and philosophy, namely, Istanbul, Ayasofya 4832. A detailed study of the contents reveals that meteorology is one of the main themes that permeates many of its mathematical and philosophical treatises. Therefore, this manuscript is a valuable witness to the various connections—both methodological and thematic—between meteorology and other disciplines, especially mathematics, astronomy, astrology, physics, and metaphysics. In this way, this manuscript contributes to our better understanding of how pre-modern scientists saw the realm of meteorolo­gical phenomena as intertwined with the terrestrial and celestial worlds, and what this meant for the methods they used to solve meteorological problems.