The comparative approach of the Orientalist Nallino in writing the scientific history of Eastern Islamic and Western civilizations

Abstract

The Italian linguist and orientalist Carlo Alfonso Nallino (1872-1938) through his comparative studies of the scientific aspects of the Indian , Egyptian, Iranian, Zardashtian, Babylonian, and Greek civilizations, to the Islamic civilization, with the aim of revealing the scientific sources of Muslim scholars in all branches of science such as: (geography, mathematics, astronomy, and jurisprudence, He then compared the texts of Muslim scholars' manuscripts with those of Western scholars in Latin and Hebrew, and identified the sources of Western scholars in these three branches of science, He reached numerous conclusions, particularly in comparing Roman law, Islamic law, and Eastern Christian law, This also demonstrates the influence of Muslim scholars on Western astronomy practices, particularly the construction of observatories dating back to the reign of Caliph Mamun, and in the West, in the 16th century. Western scholars also utilized the astronomical inventions of Muslim scholars; Nallino then compared the manuscripts of Muslim geographers with those of Western geographers and astronomers, particularly the discovery of longitudes, latitudes, astronomical tables, and world maps,This study focuses on Nalino's methodology in comparing his various studies and books, in addition to focusing on Nalino's scientific biography in an independent topic, and his efforts in establishing the Institute of Oriental Studies in Italy ,and his efforts in collecting manuscripts and books in most of the libraries of the East and the West, through his scientific trips that lasted (30) years around the world, he knew more than (10) Eastern and Western languages ​​for his research in comparing the scientific aspects of most civilizations.