ABSTRACT
It is worthwhile to emphasize once more the important delay which exists between the knowledge Western medieval scholars had of Arab mathematical works and the works themselves. If one makes an exception of a single Latin manuscript which was attested to contain Indo-Arabic numerals from 976,1 as well as the contributions of Gerbert of Aurillac and his successors in the area of abacus calculations, nothing appeared in the earlier Latin works before the twelfth century concerning the numerous Arabic works which had been developed during the period between the first quarter of the ninth century, the era of al-Khwārizmī, and the second quarter of the twelfth century, a little after the death of al-Khayyām (1123). Moreover, due to the Haskin’s remarkable Studies in the History of Medieval Science we know that it was not until the second half of the eleventh century that the influence of Arabic sciences became evident in Latin works. Once more such influences only affected the works of Alfanus of Salerno, and more especially Constantine the African and his disciples Atto and Iohannes Afflacius who were concerned with the study of medicine.2 However, these provide the first important evidence of an interest in oriental science which was to enjoy its greatest moments in the numerous translations of the twelfth century. Even if one could consider that Haskins has been entirely justified in using the term ‘Renaissance’ to describe this period, the fragmentary knowledge which scientific historians on the twelfth century possessed of several texts concerned with exact sciences merely allowed them to establish status quaestionis or to put forward several hypotheses which, even today, cannot be completely confirmed. A study of several of the most important twelfth century texts revealing an Arabic influence allows a more precise approach and a prudent revision of some opinions which were overhastily considered to be certainties. There remain too many rare Arabic texts written between the ninth and twelfth century which were made the subject of modern editions, particularly in the aforementioned area of arithmetic, for example the works quoted by Ibn al-Nadīm or al-Qifṭī, since when knowledge of the original sources of the first Latin translations has contained some serious deficiencies.
