Adelard of Bath
Adelard of Bath | |
|---|---|
Adelard of Bath, teaching illuminated by Virgil Master (c. 1400) in the Regulae abaci manuscript SCA 1 | |
| Born | c. 1080? |
| Died | c. 1142-1152? Bath, Somerset |
| Philosophical work | |
| Era | Medieval philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Scholasticism |
| Main interests | Science, theology, algebra, geometry, alchemy, astrology, astronomy |
| Notable works | Euclid's Elements (Translation from Arabic), Natural Questions, Treatise on the Astrolabe |
Adelard of Bath (Latin: Adelardus Bathensis; c. 1080? – c. 1142–1152?) was a 12th-century English natural philosopher. He is known both for his original works and for translating many important Greek scientific works of astrology, astronomy, philosophy, alchemy and mathematics into Latin from Arabic versions, which were then introduced to Western Europe. The oldest surviving Latin translation of Euclid's Elements is a 12th-century translation by Adelard from an Arabic version. He is known as one of the first to introduce the Arabic numeral system to Europe. He stands at the convergence of three intellectual schools: the traditional learning of French schools, the Greek culture of Southern Italy, and the Arabic science of the East.