A Thousand Years Before Darwin

This enlightening book explores the significant yet often overlooked contributions of Muslim scholars to the fields of biology and anatomy, revealing a rich and pioneering legacy from the Islamic Golden Age. It challenges the widespread belief that major scientific breakthroughs were solely the domain of Western thinkers, shedding light on the advanced anatomical knowledge developed by Arabic and Persian scholars long before Vesalius.

The authors trace how Muslim physicians and scientists meticulously studied human and animal anatomy, conducted dissections, and recorded their findings with remarkable accuracy. Their work laid essential foundations for later developments in Europe, yet remains largely ignored in mainstream accounts of scientific history.

This book exposes how dominant historical narratives have sidelined the achievements of non-Western scholars-particularly those from the Muslim world-due to cultural bias and colonial influence. Through compelling analysis and accessible storytelling, it calls for a reassessment of the global roots of modern science and encourages a more inclusive and accurate understanding of our shared intellectual heritage.

Rather than simply offering a revisionist history, this work serves as a call to action. It urges historians, educators, and scientists alike to recognize the interconnectedness of human knowledge and to celebrate the diverse cultures that have shaped the scientific world we know today. The authors advocate for further comparative research and a deeper appreciation of the intellectual contributions that flourished outside of Europe-contributions that were often obscured or forgotten in the shaping of Western-centric historical accounts.

This is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of science, the role of culture in shaping intellectual traditions, and the rich contributions of Muslim scholars to biology, anatomy, and the broader scientific endeavour. It challenges us to rethink what we know about the origins of science-and to honour the global spirit of inquiry that defines the human quest for knowledge.

Rui Diogo is a multi award-winning researcher, speaker and writer. Worldwide, he is renowned for addressing broader scientific questions and societal issues using empirical data from many different fields of science. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, and a PhD at the University of Liege, Belgium. This was followed up with a postdoc. at King's College London, and a Master's and PhD at the Department of Biology at George Washington University, US.A wanderer as well as a wonderer, he has conducted research, given speeches, and travelled to more than 120 countries. He is the author of more than 150 papers in top journals and 20 books, including: "Learning and Understanding Human Anatomy and Pathology," - a textbook that is used in several medical schools globally - "Evolution Driven by Organismal Behavior" - listed amongst the ten best evolutionary books of 2017 - and the highly acclaimed "Meaning of Life, Human Nature, and Delusions."

Aamina Malik is a medical student at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Anatomy - under the supervision of Rui Diogo - from Howard University in 2011 and 2015, respectively. She earned her medical degree in May 2021.

Malak Alghamdi earned her Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She followed this with a Masters and PhD in Anatomy from Howard University in 2015 and 2018, respectively-under the supervision of Rui Diogo. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.