Al-Jazari invented “Robotics”, “Elephant
Clock”, “Sand Casting”, “Lamination”, “Paper
Model”, “Flush Toilet”
Al-Jazari was an
Arab Muslim researcher and polymath(1) who lived during the Islamic Golden Age. He was
born in 1136 CE in Jazirat ibn Umar
city(which is now the south-eastern frontier of Turkey), which is what gives
him the title of “Al-Jazari”. He
was a man of many talents other than being a famous researcher, he was also a
skilled inventor, artist, craftsman(2) and
engineer. We don’t know much about his life, other than the details he provides
in his own books. He followed in the footsteps of his father and held the post of chief engineer
at the king’s palace.
Al-Jazari was an
artisan and was mostly interested in the functional aspect of things which
makes him more of an engineer than an inventor. A brilliant mechanical
engineer, and built lots of clever strange and interesting devices . His strange
and interesting devices were always elaborate(3) and ornate(4) . He designed more than 50 different
types of devices including clocks, fountains, hand washing devices, musical
devices, machines for raising water etc. His most famous book, titled “The Book
of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices” was written in 1206 and presented
to the Sultan as a gift. In it, he designed and described over a 100 mechanical
devices.
In his books, Al-Jazari gave step by step
instructions about how to build any of the machines and devices described within.
His books are an invaluable store of knowledge about early Muslim engineering.
They were unique(5) and successful because unlike other authors, he
had minutely described each detail of his machines and were so well organized the
instructions that many future craftsmen were able to enjoy the benefits of his
skill. One of the most valuable things that he created was a water system for
supplying water to various parts of the city.
It was operated by hydropower, by taking water from
the lake and turning a scoop wheel with a system of gears to transport water up
the water channel and into mosques and hospitals. In all, Al-Jazari invented
five machines for raising water, along with various watermills and water
wheels.
. He also built other
devices include a musical robot band that would float on water and play
instruments to amuse guests and several different types of clocks including
candle clocks, elephant clocks, castle clocks etc.
The ingenuity and skill demonstrated in his
craft is widely respected till today, and he is remembered worldwide as a
dynamic and talented craftsman and engineer
1/polymath= a person
who knows a lot about many different subjects .
2/craftsman= a person
who is skilled in a particular 3/elaborate =to add
more information to or explain something that you have said
4/ornate= having a lot of complicated decoration
5/unique=one of kind, special between lots.
0 comments :
Post a Comment