Al-Khwarizmi: Father of Algebra Timeline

Al-Khwarizmi: Father of Algebra 15

780 Al-Khwarizmi is born, probably in the region of Khwarazm Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi is born around 780; his name points to Khwarazm in Central Asia Al-Khwarizmi was born around 780, and his name suggests his family came from Khwarazm, south of the Aral Sea. Little else is known about his early life.
813 Al-Khwarizmi's future patron al-Ma'mun becomes Abbasid caliph Al-Ma'mun wins the civil war against his brother al-Amin Al-Ma'mun became caliph in 813 after defeating his brother al-Amin. He went on to sponsor the scientific work in Baghdad that al-Khwarizmi took part in.
820 Al-Khwarizmi applies algebra to Islamic inheritance law Much of al-Jabr deals with practical problems of inheritance, trade and measurement A large part of al-Jabr deals with practical problems, especially dividing estates under Islamic inheritance law. It also covers commercial calculations and mensuration.
820 Al-Khwarizmi compiles his astronomical tables, the Zij al-Sindhind Astronomical tables drawing on Indian, Persian and Greek methods Around 820, al-Khwarizmi compiled the Zij al-Sindhind, a set of tables for the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets that also included tables of sines. A Latin translation later spread its methods in medieval Europe.
820 Al-Khwarizmi sorts quadratic equations into six standard forms Solves them with completion and balancing and proves the methods geometrically In al-Jabr, al-Khwarizmi sorted linear and quadratic equations into six standard types and gave a step-by-step method of solution for each. He backed up the rules with geometric proofs based on completing the square.
820 – 833 Al-Khwarizmi works as a scholar at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad Joins the circle of scholars around al-Ma'mun's library and translation centre After al-Ma'mun moved his court to Baghdad in 819, al-Khwarizmi worked as a scholar at the House of Wisdom. There scholars translated and built on Greek, Persian and Indian science.
820 Al-Khwarizmi writes al-Jabr, the book that gives algebra its name The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, dedicated to al-Ma'mun Around 820, al-Khwarizmi wrote al-Kitab al-mukhtasar fi hisab al-jabr wa'l-muqabala, the first systematic treatment of solving linear and quadratic equations. The word 'algebra' comes from al-jabr in its title.
823 – 824 Al-Khwarizmi writes a treatise on the Jewish calendar Istikhraj ta'rikh al-yahud, on the Hebrew calendar and its calculation Around 823–824, al-Khwarizmi wrote a short treatise on the Jewish calendar. It explains the 19-year lunisolar cycle and how to work out the start of the Jewish year.
825 Al-Khwarizmi writes his treatise on calculating with Hindu numerals Explains decimal place-value notation and zero; its Latin title made his name into 'algorithm' Around 825, al-Khwarizmi wrote a work on arithmetic with Hindu decimal numerals, including zero. The Arabic original is lost, but Latin versions beginning 'Dixit Algorizmi' brought the system to Europe and gave rise to the word 'algorithm'.
830 Al-Khwarizmi assists al-Ma'mun's project to measure the Earth Takes part in the caliph's geodetic survey and world-map project Al-Khwarizmi is reported to have helped with al-Ma'mun's project to measure the Earth's circumference and with a world map made for the caliph. The survey measured a degree of latitude in the plains of Mesopotamia.
833 Al-Khwarizmi completes the Book of the Description of the Earth Kitab Surat al-Ard, a geography listing coordinates of over 2,000 places In 833, al-Khwarizmi completed Kitab Surat al-Ard, a revised version of Ptolemy's Geography. It gives latitudes and longitudes for cities, mountains, seas, islands and rivers.
833 Al-Khwarizmi corrects Ptolemy's length of the Mediterranean His geography shortens Ptolemy's overestimate of the sea's east–west extent Al-Khwarizmi's geography corrected Ptolemy's large overestimate of the Mediterranean Sea's length. It also improved the placement of places in the Islamic world.
833 Al-Khwarizmi's patron Caliph al-Ma'mun dies The death of the caliph who sponsored the House of Wisdom ends a key period of patronage Al-Ma'mun died on campaign near Tarsus in August 833, and his brother al-Mu'tasim succeeded him. Al-Khwarizmi's major dedicated works come from al-Ma'mun's reign.
847 Al-Khwarizmi casts a horoscope for the dying Caliph al-Wathiq Al-Tabari records him among the astrologers called to the caliph's sickbed The historian al-Tabari reports that al-Khwarizmi was among the astrologers summoned during Caliph al-Wathiq's final illness in 847. They predicted a long life, but the caliph died soon afterwards.
850 Al-Khwarizmi dies, probably in Baghdad Dies around 850; his works go on to shape mathematics in the Islamic world and Europe Al-Khwarizmi died around 850, probably in Baghdad; the exact date is unknown. Latin translations of his works made him one of the most influential mathematicians of the Middle Ages.