중세 이슬람 세계에서의 오토마타 기술 계승과 발전

Abstract

This paper examines the ways in which the knowledge and techniques related to automata have been spread throughout Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and analyses the features of the new type of automata developed in it. Generally the word “automata” refers to mechanical devices, which, after an input, perform a predetermined sequence of operations. It is presumed that the first place where the automata technology developed was Alexandria in the Hellenistic period. And it is known that Ctesibius, Philo and Hero were the pioneering engineers who led the development of automata technology in Alexandria. In the Islamic world, books on ancient Greek science and technology were translated into Arabic from the 8th century in large quantities under the systematic support of the Abbasid Caliphs. As a result, books on automata, such as Philo’s Pneumatica and Hero's Mechanic, were translated into Arabic. And this led to the increase of interest in automata in the Islamic world. During the Middle Ages, Muslims were interested in developing automata technology for various reasons. First, automata could be used as a means of entertainment to excite wonder in the spectators. Second, automata could be used as a device to perform actions for practical purposes. Third, automata could be used as a symbol to show off the wealth and power of the ruler. This article discusses how the knowledge and techniques of automata, which were derived from Alexandria in the Hellenistic period, were handed down and developed in the Islamic world, focusing on examples of Muslim engineers such as Banu Musa, Al-Muradi, Ridwan and Al-Jazari. In addition, this article will analyze the main features of the automata developed in the Islamic world, focusing on three themes: “inheritance of the Hellenistic heritage”, “humanoid type automata”, and “fusion of global cultural elements”.