How great are the Iraqi Banu Musa brothers of the 9^th century? What are the achievements of the Andalusian engineer Abbas Ibn Firnas? Would you like to know about the roboticist Al-Jazari who lived in the 12^th century?

Jim Al-Khalili will guide us through the work of the roboticists and innovators of the Golden Age of science (9^th – 14^thcenturies).

In fact, he looks at state-of-the-art robotic engineering and studies the history of early automatic machines.

Marvelous Ideas

He unpicks the principles behind the trick devices of Banu Musa brothers in the 9^th century. Also, he shows a modern reconstruction of their ingenious ‘flute that plays itself’.

Additionally, Jim shows the intricate clocks and sophisticated water pumps designed by 12th century engineer Al-Jazari.

And he analyses the claims made of Abbas Ibn Firnas – who supposedly managed to get airborne all the way back in the 9^th century.