OverviewA scholar remembered for testing ideas about vision and light.CategoryScholarPeriodc. 965 – c. 1040 CE
Life and settingIbn al-Haytham worked in the mathematical and scientific traditions of the Islamic world and spent an important part of his life in Egypt.Source: TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam
Work and legacyHis Book of Optics examines light, vision and visual perception. Its later Latin transmission influenced scientific discussion in medieval and early modern Europe.Source: TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam
SourcesOriginal concise biography based on the cited references. Historical reports, later devotional traditions and uncertain dates are distinguished where relevant.TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam
