Timeline of the life and works of Persian polymath Ibn Sina (Avicenna), including his seminal medical encyclopedia The Canon of Medicine and philosophical magnum opus The Book of Healing, which shaped both Islamic and European scholarship for centuries.
Ibn Sina (Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abd Allah ibn Sina) is born in Afshana, near Bukhara (in present-day Uzbekistan), into a Persian family. His father was a local governor under the Samanid dynasty. #biography #history
Ibn Sina's family moves to Bukhara, the capital of the Samanid Empire, where his father secures a position. The city is a major center of learning and culture. #history
By the age of 10, Ibn Sina has memorized the entire Quran and studied much Arabic literature, displaying exceptional intelligence and memory. #quran #history
Ibn Sina begins studying Indian arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and philosophy under the guidance of teachers. He quickly surpasses his tutors and turns to self-study, mastering logic, Euclid, and the Almagest. #education #history
Ibn Sina successfully treats Sultan Nuh II of the Samanid dynasty from an illness that had baffled court physicians. As a reward, he is granted access to the royal library of the Samanids, which greatly expands his knowledge. #medicine #history
After his father's death, Ibn Sina accepts a position at the court of the Samanids, but political instability forces him to leave Bukhara. He begins a period of travel across Persia, seeking patrons and continuing his work. #history
Ibn Sina travels to Gurganj, capital of Khwarazm, where he is welcomed by the Khwarazm Shah and meets other scholars like Abu Rayhan al-Biruni. He continues his studies and writings. #history
Ibn Sina moves to Rayy (near modern Tehran) seeking patronage. He serves the local Buyid ruler, Majd al-Dawla, and treats him for depression. #history
Ibn Sina moves to Hamadan, where he becomes the physician and vizier of the Buyid emir Shams al-Dawla. He composes many of his works during this period, including parts of The Canon of Medicine. #history #medicine
Ibn Sina starts drafting his magnum opus, Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine), a five-volume medical encyclopedia synthesizing Greek, Islamic, and Indian medical knowledge. It will become the standard medical textbook in Europe and Asia for over 500 years. #medicine #books
Ibn Sina begins his philosophical encyclopedia Kitab al-Shifa (The Book of Healing), covering logic, natural sciences, mathematics, and metaphysics. It heavily influences medieval European scholasticism. #philosophy #books
After the death of his patron Shams al-Dawla, Ibn Sina falls out of favor and is imprisoned in the fortress of Fardajan by the new ruler. During imprisonment, he continues writing and completes several works. #history
After his release, Ibn Sina escapes in disguise to Isfahan, where he is welcomed by the Kakuyid ruler Ala al-Dawla Muhammad. He enjoys fruitful patronage and continues his scholarly work. #history
Ibn Sina finishes the final volume of The Canon of Medicine in Isfahan. The work contains over one million words and includes descriptions of diseases, pharmacology, and anatomy, with a systematic classification. #medicine #books
Ibn Sina completes Kitab al-Shifa, arguably the most influential philosophical work of the Islamic Golden Age. It integrates Aristotelian, Neoplatonic, and Islamic thought and is studied in Europe alongside Aquinas. #philosophy #books
Ibn Sina writes Kitab al-Najat (Book of Salvation), a summary of his philosophy, intended as a companion to The Book of Healing. It becomes popular in the Islamic world. #philosophy #books
Ibn Sina composes a philosophical treatise on love, discussing the nature of divine and human love. This work reflects the mystical and metaphysical aspects of his thought. #philosophy #books
Ibn Sina writes a treatise on music theory as part of The Book of Healing's mathematics section. He discusses harmony, intervals, and instruments, building on the works of Al-Farabi. #music #science
Ibn Sina composes a treatise on zoology, examining animal anatomy and behavior, drawing from Aristotle but adding his own observations. #science #books
Ibn Sina writes on mineralogy, mountains, and the formation of stones. He proposes that mountains are formed by either uplifting from earthquakes or erosion over long periods, anticipating later geological theories. #science #geology
Ibn Sina compiles the Danishnameh-ye Alai (Book of Science) in Persian, a comprehensive work on logic, physics, mathematics, and metaphysics, dedicated to Ala al-Dawla. It is one of his major Persian works. #philosophy #books
Ibn Sina writes a poetic medical text on the pulse, used for teaching. His description of pulse types is highly detailed and remains influential. #medicine #poetry
Ibn Sina discusses his views on cosmology and celestial motion, critiquing Ptolemy and proposing alternative models. His astronomical works influence later Islamic and European astronomers. #astronomy #science
Ibn Sina's patron, Ala al-Dawla, successfully defends against the Ghaznavid invasion. Ibn Sina likely pens panegyrics and continues his service. #history
Ibn Sina joins Ala al-Dawla on a military campaign to Kerman. During this time, he continues writing and advising the ruler. #history
Ibn Sina pens a treatise on the soul, arguing for its immortality and intellect. This work parallels his earlier discussions in The Book of Healing. #philosophy #psychology
Ibn Sina exchanges questions and answers with the scholar Al-Biruni on topics like physics, astronomy, and philosophy, showcasing intellectual discourse of the era. #science #philosophy
Ibn Sina writes a commentary and critique of Aristotle's Metaphysics, offering his own interpretations that influence later Islamic and Christian theologians. #philosophy #books
In his metaphysical works, Ibn Sina presents a proof for the existence of God based on contingency and necessity, known as the 'Proof of the Truthful'. This argument is later adopted by Aquinas. #philosophy #theology
Ibn Sina's health begins to fail after years of hard work and political turmoil. He continues to work despite suffering from colic and other ailments. #history
Ibn Sina dies in Hamadan at the age of 57, likely from colic or possibly poisoning. He is buried in Hamadan, where his tomb remains a monument. His works continue to dominate medical and philosophical education for centuries. #history #biography