Al-Jazari and His Technological Legacy: Foundations of Robotics and Automation by Mahmud Asilsoy

https://muslimheritage.com/al-jazari-legacy/ This paper investigates the life, inventions, and enduring legacy of Badiʿ al-Zaman Abū al-ʿIzz ibn Ismāʿīl ibn al-Razzāz al-Jazarī, a pioneering mechanical engineer of the 12th–13th centuries whose work exemplifies the intellectual and technological achievements of the Islamic Golden Age. Focusing on his seminal manuscript, The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices, the study explores Al-Jazarī’s innovative contributions to automation, hydraulics, and mechanical design. By analyzing key inventions—including complex water clocks, automata, and water-raising machines—this research highlights the sophisticated engineering principles embedded in his work, many of which prefigure concepts in modern robotics and cybernetics. The paper also situates Al-Jazarī within the broader historical and cultural context of medieval Islamic science and reflects on the interdisciplinary nature of his legacy, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary engineering, education, and design ethics. Through a critical examination of both primary texts and contemporary scholarship, this study reasserts Al-Jazarī’s rightful place as a visionary precursor to modern mechanical engineering and robotics.