Pioneers of Engineering: Al-Jazari and the Banu Musa

We trace the path from modern technology back to the scientists who developed robots, water pumps and trick mechanisms.


The Industrial Revolution was a major turning point in world history, shaping modern behaviour and every other aspect of human life.

The introduction of machines in the 17th century, often powered by water or steam, revolutionised food production, medicine, housing, and clothing.

In this episode of Science in a Golden Age, theoretical physicist, Jim al-Khalili examines the intricate automatic devices from the Islamic world, which paved the way for Europe's industrial revolution some 800 years later.

Jim starts his journey at the cutting edge of modern automation - a robotic kitchen that can be programmed to produce a number of dishes according to fixed recipes. Jim finds interesting parallels to this example of modern engineering in the Kitab al-Hiyal (The Book of Tricks) written by the three Banu Musa brothers in the 9th century.