‘Al-Mizan’ is the Arabic word for balance; both the literal measuring instrument and the metaphorical balancing achieved by justice and harmonious debate.

For hundreds of years Arabic was the common language of science and mathematics, pursued from modern-day Afghanistan and Iran to Spain and North Africa. The same societies also developed a highly distinctive visual and artistic culture.

This exhibition reconnects the Islamic sciences and arts. It presents highlights from the Museum’s collection of Islamic scientific instruments alongside books and designed objects on loan from other important collections. This juxtaposition reveals the links between intellectual ingenuity and creative skills, between the realm of mathematical accomplishment and the practical world of the craftsman.

Special Exhibition Gallery from 26 October

Sciences and Arts in the Islamic World

Al-Mizan

The exhibition is staged in collaboration with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, in celebration of its 25th anniversary.

October - December 2010PrOgrAMMe

MUSEUM of the HISTORY of SCIENCE

Table Talks

A large table in the Basement Gallery is used for informal talks and demonstrations.

Free. No need to book Free. No need to book

Two cameras are going on loan for a special exhibition at the Landes Museum Natur und Mensch, Germany, one formerly owned by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), the other by his father.

curreNT loaNThe Museum’s instruments often feature in special exhibitions in other museums.

eXHIBITIONSGallery Tours

al-MizanA guide to the special exhibition led by curator, Stephen Johnston.Saturday 27 November, 2pmSaturday 11 December, 2pm

Museum secretsJim Bennett reveals some of the unexpected discoveries made during the redevelopment of c.1999 – some beneath the ground, others beneath the floorboards.Saturday 16 October, 2pm

Introducing the MuseumVolunteer-led introductory tours will take place every Thursday at 2.15 and 3pm.

How Does the astrolabe Work?Sunday 28 November, 2.30pm Jim Bennett

QiblaFinding the direction of Mecca, with Stephen JohnstonSunday 5 December, 2.30pm

DROP INNo booking required

The big Draw: Dancing with atomssaturday 23 octoberbasement Gallery, 12-4pmDrawing and collage inspired by the motion of atoms and X-ray patterns. For all ages.

Discover Islamic Tile PatternsThursday 28 octoberFriday 29 octoberbasement Gallery, 1-4pmDiscover symmetry, geometry and colour and create your own patterns inspired by Islamic tile designs. suitable for ages 7-13.

lightning strikessaturday 20 Novemberbasement Gallery, 12-4pmDiscover the power of electricity and the story of Benjamin Franklin’s invention of the lightning conductor.suitable for children aged 7 upwards.

My Favourite starsaturday 18 Decembersaturday 22 Decemberbasement Gallery, 1-4pmMake magical stars and discover the Zodiac amongst the Museum’s collection of astronomical instruments. suitable for children aged 5 upwards.

beTWeeN THe lINesTuesday 12 october, 7pm

In the latest in our occasional series of lectures by authors on the history of science, Celina Fox will talk about her outstanding new book The Arts of Industry in the Age of Enlightenment.

“Celina Fox’s brilliant and beautifully illustrated opus restores the connection between drawing and technology originally embedded in the very word “art”, before the Romantics turned it into a mystical effusion of genius.”(Simon Schama)

THe caMera obscuraMonday 25 october

THe secreT lIFe oF THe MuseuMeNTraNce Galleryto 14 November

A selection of the finds made beneath the floorboards of the top gallery during redevelopment in 1999.

coNservaTIoN: securING THe PasTentrance Galleryfrom 19 NovemberA display of conservation work at the Museum, showing the variety of objects and materials that receive attention and intervention in our studio.

early scIeNce IN basement Galleryto 23 December

sTars aND sTarlIGHTFriday 26 November, 7 to 11 pm

The Museum’s contribution to Oxford’s ‘Christmas Light Night’.This year is the 150th anniversary of the beginnings of a revolution in astronomy, when spectroscopy made it possible to discover what stars are made of.

Learn about spectroscopy and its history, and create your personal ‘spectrum’.Suitable for all the family.

THe oxForD PHIlosoPHIcal socIeTy aND THe royal socIeTy: a MeeTING oF MINDs?Tuesday 26 october, 7pm

THe NaTural HIsTory oF oxForDsHIresaturday 13 November, 2-5pmA special event in our programme marking the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Society. Robert Plot’s Oxfordshire, of 1677 is a fascinating collections of facts and anecdotes about the county, which, with the help of local historians and other residents, we compare with our knowledge of Oxfordshire today.

MeTeorITes IN scIeNce aND culTureTuesday 7 December, 7 pm

Public lecture by Professor Monica Grady. For details, see ART@MHS

Public lecture by Dr Anna Marie Roos

In the last of the three public lectures in our programme ‘Oxford and the Early Royal Society’, Dr Roos will describe the formation of the Oxford Society, the work done under the direction of Robert Plot, and its relationship with the Royal Society: sometimes one of collaboration, sometimes one of rivalry.

admission to all events is free.

A display illustrating the early scientific work in the building now occupied by the Museum of the History of Science.

In the bodleian library and MHs, 1-2.30pmTalk, demonstration and tour by Roger SmithAn introduction to this popular optical instrument by Roger Smith, a maker as well as authority on the camera obscura. A collaboration between the Museum and the Bodleian Library: meet at 1pm in the Convocation House, entered via the Divinity School, Old Bodleian Library.

TAlkSCONTACT FAMIly FrIeNDlyJoin us!Keep in contact with the Museum and support our work by becoming a member. For an annual subscription of £10 you will receive the quarterly programmes, issues of Broadsheet, and an invitation to an annual reception. You can also subscribe to a separate free mailing list to receive monthly news of Museum events by email. See the website for details.

libraryThe Museum’s library is open to students, academics and members of the public from 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm, Monday - Friday.For enquiries and appointments email library@mhs.ox.ac.uk or call 01865 277278

education serviceThe Museum offers a range of taught sessions suitable for primary and secondary key stages, as well as workshops and Study Days for sixth formers and advanced students.Further information can be found at: www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/education

broadsheet is an occasional publication communicating the work of the Museum; it is published on the website and printed for sale.

Museum opening hoursTuesday to Friday 12.00-17.00Saturday 10.00-17.00Sunday 14.00-17.00Closed on Mondays

Issue 10 I 2010BROADSheet communicates the work of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. Available at www.mhs.ox.ac.uk, the museum shop,

and distributed to members of the museum.

I n 1663 the Royal Society, at the suggestion of John Evelyn, adopt-

ed the motto ‘Nullius in Verba’. The original meaning is close to

‘not bound by any authority’, or ‘on the word of no authority.’ The

motto also came to be conveniently misunderstood as meaning sim-

ply ‘nothing in words’, and the early rhetoric of the Society promoted

things and works far above mere words. In 1667 the official ‘historian’

or apologist, Thomas Sprat, described their goal as ‘not the Artifice of

Words, but a bare knowledge of things’ and the institution itself as ‘a

Society that prefers Works before Words.’ (T.Sprat, The history of the

Royal Society of London, 1667).It is clear, however, that many of the early Fellows enjoyed words and well-crafted prose. As part of an afternoon of activities related to the written record of the early Royal Society, this anthology presents selections from the writ-ings of four of the Fellows who had close associations with Ox-ford in the seventeenth century: John Wilkins, Robert Boyle, Chris-

topher Wren and Robert Hooke. Even when affirming the Society’s belief in plain speaking, Hooke could not disguise his affection for words: the ‘true Philosophical Historian,’ he said, will avoid ‘all kinds of Rhetorical Flourishes, or Oratorical Garnishes, and all sorts of Periphrases or Circumlocu-tions.’ (R. Waller, ed., The posthu-mous works of Robert Hooke, 1705)

an anthology of words from the early Royal Society

PHILOSOPHY the great and only Heir Of all that Human Knowledge which has bin Vnforfeited by Mans rebellious Sin, Though full of years He do appear, (Philosophy, I say, and call it, He, For whatsoe’re the Painters Fancy be, It a Male Virtu seems to me) Has still bin kept in Nonage till of late, Nor manag’d or enjoy’d his vast Estate: Three or four thousand years one would have thought, To ripeness and perfection might have brought A Science so well bred and nurst, And of such hopeful parts too at the first. But, oh, the Guardians and the Tutors then, (Some negligent, and some ambitious men) Would ne’re consent to set him Free, Or his own Natural Powers to let him see, Lest that should put an end to their Autoritie.

From Words, which are but Pictures of the Thought, (Though we our Thoughts from them perversly drew) To Things, the Minds right Object, he* it brought, Like foolish Birds to painted Grapes we flew; He sought and gather’d for our use the Tru; And when on heaps the chosen Bunches lay, He prest them wisely the Mechanic way, Till all their juyce did in one Vessel joyn, Ferment into a Nourishment Divine, The thirsty Souls refreshing Wine. Who to the life an exact Piece would make, Must not from others Work a Copy take; No, not from Rubens or Vandike; Much less content himself to make it like Th’ Idaeas and the Images which ly In his own Fancy, or his Memory. No, he before his sight must place The Natural and Living Face; The real Object must command Each Iudgment of his Eye, and Motion of his Hand.

* Francis Bacon

MUSEUM of the HISTORY of SCIENCE

Sprat’s History of 1667 included a preface in verse by the poet Abraham Cowley. Extracted here are the opening stanza and one addressing the relative worth of words and things.

Wilkins contends that mountains are good, whether on the earth or the moon. This was not the common view in his time, but he cites classical and bibli-cal sources, geography and history for his case that mountains are not the consequence of sin but of providential design.

Though there are some, who think Mountaines to be a deformitie to the earth, as if they were either beate up by the Flood, or else cast up like so many

heaps of rubbish left at the Creation; yet if well consid-ered, they will bee found as much to conduce to the beauty and conveniency of the universe, as any of the other parts. Nature (saith Pliny) purposely framed them for many excel-lent uses: partly to tame the violence of greater Rivers; to strengthen certaine joynts within the veines and bowels of the earth, to break the force of the Seas inundation, and for the safety of the earths inhabitants, whether beasts or men. That they make much for the protection of beasts, the Psalmist testifies, The highest hils are a refuge for the wild goates, and the rocks for conies. The Kingly Prophet had like-wise learned the safety of these by his owne experience, when he also was faine to make a mountaine his refuge from the fury of his Master Saul, who persecuted him in the wildernesse.

True indeed, such places as these keepe their neighbours poore, as being most barren, but yet they preserve them safe, as being most strong; witnesse our unconquered Wales and Scotland, whose greatest protection hath beene the naturall strength of their Countrey, so fortified with Mountaines, that these have alwayes beene unto them sure retraites from the violence and oppression of others. Wherfore a good Author doth rightly call them natures bulwarks, cast up at God Almighties owne charges, the scornes and curbes of victorious armies ... Certainly then such usefull parts were not the effect of mans sin, or produced by the Worlds curse, the Flood, but rather at the first created by the goodnesse and providence of the Almightie.

John Wilkins, A discourse concerning a new world & another planet, 1640

Wilkins is confident that, just as knowledge and skill have progressed by stages to his time, con-tinued progress will one day take us to the moon, there to learn about its inhabitants, the Selenites.

Being content for my owne part to have spoken so much of it, as may conduce to shew the opinion of others concerning the inhabitants of the Moone, I

dare not my selfe affirme any thing of these Selenites, be-cause I know not any ground whereon to build any prob-able opinion. But I thinke that future ages will discover more; and our posterity, perhaps, may invent some meanes for our better acquaintance with these inhabitants. ‘Tis the method of providence not presently to shew us all, but to lead us along from the knowledge of one thing to another. ‘Twas a great while ere the Planets were distinguished from the fixed Stars, and sometime after that ere the morning and evening starre were found to bee the same, and in greater space I doubt not but this also, and farre greater mysteries will bee discovered. In the first ages of the world the Islanders either thought themselves to be the onely dwellers upon the earth, or else if there were any other, yet they could not possibly conceive how they might have any commerce with them, being severed by the deepe and broad Sea, but the after-times found out the invention of ships, in which notwithstanding none but some bold daring men durst venture, there being few so resolute as to commit themselves unto the vaste Ocean, and yet now how easie a thing is this, even to a timorous & cowardly nature? So, perhaps, there may be some other meanes in-vented for a conveyance to the Moone, and though it may seeme a terrible and impossible thing ever to passe through the vaste spaces of the aire, yet no question there would bee some men who durst venture this as well as the other. ... We have not now any Drake or Columbus to under-take this voyage, or any Daedalus to invent a conveyance through the aire. However, I doubt not but that time who is still the father of new truths, and hath revealed unto us many things which our Ancestours were ignorant of, will also manifest to our posterity, that which wee now desire, but cannot know.

John Wilkins, A discourse concerning a new world & another planet, 1640

To demonstrate the evolution of a language, Wilkins offers an early version of the Lord’s Prayer – the first of seven examples he gives extending over nine centuries.

If any English man should now write or speak as our forefathers did about six or seven hundred years past, we should as little understand him as if he were a

foreiner; of which it were easie to give several proofs by instance, if it were not inconsistent with my present de-sign of brevity. About the year of Christ 700 the Lord’s Prayer in English was thus rendred: Uren fader thic arth in heofnas, sic gehalgud thin noma: to cymeth thin ric: sic thin willa sue is in heofnas and in eortho. Uren hlaf ofer wirtlic sel us to daeg; and forget us scylda urna, sue we forgefen scyldgum urum; and no inlead usith in custnung. Ah gefrig urich from ifle. Amen. John Wilkins, An essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language,

1668Which was the newest language in the world in 1668? Can a language be invented by agreement among those who intend to use it?

That which seems to be the newest Language in the World, is the Malayan, which is now as general and common amongst the Natives of the East-In-

dies, as Latin or French is in these parts of the World. ‘Tis said to be but of late invention, occasioned by the con-course of Fishermen from Pegu, Siam, Bengala, and several other Nations, who meeting together at a place convenient for Fishing, and finding that it was by situation exceeding commodious for Traffick from several parts, did agree to settle there a Plantation; and accordingly built the Town of Malacca, which hath since, for many years, been gov-erned by the Portuguez, and is now under the power of the Hollander. And, for the more facil converse with one an-other, they agreed upon a distinct Language, which prob-ably was made up by selecting the most soft and easy words belonging to each several Nation. And this is the onely Language (for ought I know) that hath ever been at once invented; if it may properly be styled a distinct Language, and not rather a Medley of many. But this being invented by rude Fishermen, it cannot be expected that it should have all those advantages, with which it might have been furnished by the rules of Philosophy.John Wilkins, An essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language,

1668

Inventing a language is about as welcome as in-venting a disease? – a striking simile from a lan-guage inventor.

It cannot be denied, but that the variety of Letters is an appendix to the Curse of Babel, namely, the multitude and variety of Languages. And therefore, for any man

to go about to add to their number, will be but like the inventing of a Disease, for which he can expect but little thanks from the world. But this Consideration ought to be no discouragement: For supposing such a thing as is here proposed, could be well established, it would be the surest remedy that could be against the Curse of the Confusion, by rendring all other Languages and Characters useless.John Wilkins, An essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language,

1668An analogy between species among the animals and constellations among the stars.

He that looks upon the Starrs, as they are confused-ly scattered up and down in the Firmament, will think them to be (as they are sometimes stiled) in-

numerable, of so vast a multitude, as not to be determined to any set number: but when all these Starrs are distinctly reduced into particular constellations, and described by their several places, magnitudes and names, it appears, that of those that are visible to the naked eye, there are but few more then a thousand in the whole Firmament, and but a little more then half so many to be seen at once in any Hemisphere, taking in the minuter kinds of them, even to six degrees of magnitude. It is so likewise in other things: He that should put the Question, how many sorts of beasts, or birds, &c. there are in the world, would be answered, even by such as are otherwise knowing and learned men, that there are so many hundreds of them, as could not be enumerated; whereas upon a distinct inquiry into all such as are yet known, and have been described by credible Authors, it will appear that they are much fewer then is commonly imagined, not a hundred sorts of Beasts, nor two hundred of Birds.

John Wilkins, An essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language, 1668

Broad Sheet is produced by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ

Tel +44(0)1865 277280 Fax +44(0)1865 277288Web: www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Email: museum@mhs.ox.ac.uk

John Wilkins John Wilkins (1614-1672), Warden of Wadham College from 1648 to 1659, was the leader

of the group of experimental philosophers at the time in Oxford, and probably the most

influential among the founders as regards the nature and organisation of the Royal Society.

Museum of the History of science, broad street, oxford ox1 3aZtel: 01865 277280 email: museum@mhs.ox.ac.uk

www.mhs.ox.ac.uk

WORKSHOPbook on 01865 277280

Meet the royalssaturday 9 octoberbasement Gallery, 2-4pmFind out about the strange goings on in the first professional scientific society: peculiar pumps and a double-bottomed ship!suitable for ages 9-13.

Finding Meccasaturday 6 Novemberbasement Gallery, 2-4pmThe city of Mecca is the centre of the Islamic faith and the most important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, so the word ‘mecca’ has come to mean a centre of activity or interest. Find out what early Islamic scholars knew about geography, discover the qibla indicator, and make a personal place finder. suitable for ages 9-13.Voluntary materials donation £5.

armillary spheressaturday 4 Decemberbasement Gallery, 2-4pmFind out how an armillary sphere works and make your own working model. Help with cutting card may be required.suitable for children aged 9 upwards.Voluntary materials donation £5.

aNvIlleD sTarsThe Meteoric Mirrors of Matthew Luck GalpinTop Gallery from 20 November

sPecIal eveNTMeteorites in science and cultureTuesday 7 December, 7 pm

Public lecture by Professor Monica Gradylinked to ‘Anvilled Stars’

Monica Grady is Professor of Planetary and Space Science at the Open University and a world authority on meteorites. She gave the televised Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2003 and has had an asteroid named in her honour.

Admission free.

Matthew Galpin has taken fragments of the heavens, shooting stars, into his studio and exposed their secret reflections in the heat of his forge. With tense skill, a keen eye and strength he has hammered out their form and polished their meaning into objects of gleaming artistic magnitude.

Fallen meteorites have been reheated in the artist’s forge and lovingly hammered into a tense form that is agreed between the man and the material. Their enigmatic surfaces then hand polished into a mirrored depth that reflects all of our sight and speculations.

These hand made mirrors have travelled millions of miles to the blacksmith’s forge, where their dark mysterious reflections are unlocked with fire, strength and the artist’s eye.

(Brian Catling)

eXHIBITIONSPeCIAl eVeNTS Art @ MHSeXHIBITIONS