Indian Science and Technology in the Eighteenth Century: Some Contemporary European Accounts c13.69

c13.69

The Arabs became acquainted with the Indian astronomy and numerical science, before they had any knowledge of the writings of the Grecian astronomers and mathematicians: and it was not until after more than one century, and nearly two, that they had the benefit of an interpretation of Diophantus, whether version or paraphrase, executed by Muhammed Abulwafa *Al Buzjani*; who added, in a separate form, demonstrations of the propositions contained in Diophantus; and who was likewise author of Commentaries on the Algebraic treatises of the Khuwarezmite Muhammed ben Musa, and of another Algebraist of less note and later date, Abi Yahya, whose lectures he had personally attended.¹⁰² Any inference to be drawn from their knowledge and study of the Arithmetics of Diophantus and their seeming adoption of his preparation of equations in their own Algebra, or at least the close resemblance of both on this point, is of no avail against the direct evidence, with which we are furnished by them, of previous instruction in Algebra and the publication of a treatise on the art, by an author conversant with the Indian science of computation in all its branches.