Obstacles to technological progress in Islam?

I think the social structure of the Ottoman Empire was the primary reason for this. Although it was not a homogeneous structure everywhere in the Empire, it was highly centralized in the classical age. The Sultan had ultimate power and the taxes were collected in the hands of central government. The main class dicothomy was sultan vs. small peasants. Also there was a merchants class under the strict control of lounges. Every products that could be produced were well defined and innovations weren't welcomed. All the land belonged to the sultan. The sipahis used the land in the name of the sultan and in return they provided soldiers for the army. They couldn't leave the land as a legacy to their children. Therefore the capital accumulation in the private hands was very difficult. Thus a bourgeois class, which would motivate scientific progress didn't emerge. The Ottoman society was somewhat static. Only after the military losses, the European progress in military technology was observed and followed. Because the Ottoman economy was mostly dependent on military conquests. Another factor was that the Ottomans controlled the old trade routes and didn't have the motive of overseas discoveries.

Originally posted by Komnenos He predominantly puts it down to the famous Islamic law that forbids the depicture of living beings, animals and humans alike, and so the Professor argued, as it was impossible for Islamic scholars to illustrate their possible findings in medicine, biology, and other academic fields, they didn't bother to begin with. It all soounded a bit feeble to me, first of all, I fail to understand why this law should have prevented research in non-biological technology, and second there surely must have been some other and some important reasons for the undeniable fact that the Muslim world fell behind. Please enlighten me.

I think the question is asked in the wrong way. It should be not what obstructed technological development in the East, but what pushed it trhough in the West.

I personally believe that it was the discovery of the New World that brought in the Renaissance, where the Orient isolated from the main roots towards the new world was destined to remain in stagnation.

I saw that one two. I think it hasn't specificly to do with Islam I read somewere that the Roman Empire (western part so the end of the great empire) because they relide to much on Slaves so that could also be interprated as lack of technological advansment.

BTW I tought the arabs introduced alchemie , astronomie , all over the world they use Arab number if I'm not wrong ( or indian originally) the technology advancements ocured in the rennecanse period wich was started or influenced by the arabs(muslims) in Spain.

sorry for my english

One way in which muslims influenced the renaissance is by taking Constantinople. After Constantinople fell to the Turks,  Greek/Byzantine scholars fled west to Rome bringing renewed energy in Greek/Roman heritage and advancement.

Edited by arch.buff - 15-Jun-2006 at 21:35

The height of Muslim advancement is considered to be from 12-14th century. Would others agree?

900 - 1258. I think muslim should be replace with Arab, since thats usually what people mean when they say it. The major reason for decline? Mongol invasion and the burning of the Great Library of Baghdad.

The two greatest crimes of all history:
Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria by fundamentalist Christians
Destruction of the Great Library of Baghdad by Mongols

Originally posted by Omar al Hashim The height of Muslim advancement is considered to be from 12-14th century. Would others agree? 900 - 1258. I think muslim should be replace with Arab, since thats usually what people mean when they say it. The major reason for decline? Mongol invasion and the burning of the Great Library of Baghdad. The two greatest crimes of all history: Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria by fundamentalist Christians Destruction of the Great Library of Baghdad by Mongols

Originally posted by Omar al Hashim The height of Muslim advancement is considered to be from 12-14th century. Would others agree? 900 - 1258. I think muslim should be replace with Arab, since thats usually what people mean when they say it. The major reason for decline? Mongol invasion and the burning of the Great Library of Baghdad. The two greatest crimes of all history: Destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria by fundamentalist Christians Destruction of the Great Library of Baghdad by Mongols

Lack of interest in the science amongst the general, populations. happening now in the west as well. As Bill Gates put it so succiently.

to be honest,it was the fault of the 17th century ottomans.Before that they were the main power of science and tech.But as stated above,they underestimated the achievements in the west and went on an era of luxury and overspending...which eventually brought fall.And as you may know nearly all of the superstitions in islam were invented in that era