Translation, Cultural Heritage, and Civilizational Communication: The Abbasid Era (750–1258 CE) as a Model

Abstract

This study investigates the role of the translation movement in the Abbasid Era (750–1258 CE) in transmitting scientific and intellectual knowledge from major civilizations, particularly the Greek, Persian, and Indian traditions, into Arabic. The translated corpus covered a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and engineering. Its incorporation into Arabic scholarly culture broadened the intellectual horizons of Arab-Islamic civilization and reinforced its prominent standing in the medieval world. The study further examines how translation encouraged cultural exchange and facilitated communication between civilizations. The circulation of ideas made possible through translation supported the development of Arab thought and contributed to the rise of numerous philosophical and scientific traditions. As Arabic expanded through new concepts, technical vocabulary, and wider semantic possibilities, it became increasingly capable of expressing both local traditions and the shared heritage of humanity. Through sustained engagement with the major languages of the period—especially Greek, Persian, and Indian—Arab-Islamic civilization developed a more open, adaptive, and intellectually expansive character.

Keywords

• Translation
• Abbasid Era
• Culture
• Civilization
• Interaction

Çeviri, Kültürel Miras ve Medeniyetlerarası İletişim: Abbâsî Dönemi (750–1258) Örneği

Öz

Bu çalışma, Abbâsî Dönemi’nde (750–1258) gelişen çeviri hareketinin, başta Yunan, Fars ve Hint gelenekleri olmak üzere farklı medeniyetlere ait ilmî ve fikrî birikimin Arapçaya aktarılmasındaki rolünü ele almaktadır. Tercüme edilen eserler; tıp, felsefe, matematik, astronomi ve mühendislik gibi çeşitli alanları kapsamıştır. Bu birikimin Arapça ilim çevrelerine dâhil olması, Arap-İslâm medeniyetinin düşünce ufkunu genişletmiş ve Orta Çağ dünyasındaki seçkin konumunu pekiştirmiştir. Çalışma ayrıca çevirinin kültürel etkileşimi nasıl güçlendirdiğini ve medeniyetler arasındaki iletişimi nasıl kolaylaştırdığını incelemektedir. Çeviri sayesinde dolaşıma giren fikirler, Arap düşüncesinin gelişmesini desteklemiş ve farklı felsefî ile ilmî geleneklerin ortaya çıkmasına katkı sağlamıştır. Yeni kavramlar, teknik terimler ve genişleyen anlam alanlarıyla zenginleşen Arapça, hem yerel birikimi hem de insanlığın ortak mirasını ifade edebilecek güçlü bir dil hâline gelmiştir. Dönemin başlıca dilleriyle kurulan sürekli temas neticesinde Abbâsî medeniyeti daha açık, uyum sağlayabilen ve düşünsel bakımdan daha üretken bir karakter kazanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çeviri
• Abbâsî Dönemi
• Kültür
• Medeniyet
• Etkileşim

Kaynakça

1. Abbes, R. (2018). Altaathirat alkharijiat liharakat altarjamat fi aleasr aleabaasii al’uwli (132–232 AH/750–830 AD) [External influences on the translation movement in the first Abbasid era] (in Arabic). Tishreen University Journal for Research and Scientific Studies: Arts and Humanities Series, 40(3). 123-139.
2. Abdal’adhim, N. (2021). Henayn bin Ishaq wa dawruh fi harakat altarjamat fi aleasr aleabaasii althaani: Altarjamat alsiryaniat anmwdhajan [Hunayn ibn Ishaq and his role in the translation movement in the second Abbasid era: Syriac translation as a model] (in Arabic). International Journal of Humanities and Language Research, 4(2), 72–82.
3. Ahmed, T. A. (2004). Alealaqat aldiblumasiat lilkhilafat aleabaasiat min eam 132–232 H [Diplomatic relations of the Abbasid Caliphate from 132–232 AH] (in Arabic). Markaz Aliskandaria.
4. Al-Anzi, M. T. (2018). Dirasat tahliliat litatawur harakat altarjamat fi aleasrayn al’umawii waleabaasi [An analytical study of the development of the translation movement in the Umayyad and Abbasid eras] (in Arabic). Journal of Scientific Research in Education, 19, 169-194.
5. Al-Husayni, F. M. (2006). Afaq alhadarat alearabiat al’iislamiati [Horizons of Arab-Islamic civilization] (in Arabic). Dar Al-Shorouk.
6. Alyuzbaki, T. (1976). Altaerib fi aleasrayn al’umawii waleabaasi [Arabization in the Umayyad and Abbasid eras] (in Arabic). Adab Al-Rafidayn, 41–66.
7. Dick, J. (1984). Dalil altaalib fi altarjamati [Student’s guide to translation] (New ed.) (in Arabic). Maktabat Jibib.
8. Ghazal, M. Y. (1973). Harakat altarjamat walnaql fi aleasr aleabaasi [The movement of translation and transmission in the Abbasid era] (in Arabic). Matba‘at Mar Afram.

9. Ibn al-Nadim. (1988). Al-Fihrist (R. Al-Mazindirani, Ed.) [The catalogue] (in Arabic). Dar Al-Masira.
10. Khalifa, H. (1941). Kashf al-zunun ‘an asami al-kutub wa al-funun [Unveiling doubts about the names of books and arts] (1st ed.) (in Arabic). Dar Al-Ma‘arif Al-Turkiyyah.
11. Mabsout, D. (2021). Altarjamat wa tahqiq altawasul bayn althaqafat [Translation and achieving communication between cultures] (in Arabic). Tamathulat, 70–103.
12. Mansour, M. A. (2006). Altarjamat bayn alnazariat waltatbiqi: Mabadi wa nusus wa qamus lil-mustalahat al-islamia [Translation between theory and practice: Principles, texts, and a dictionary of Islamic terms] (13th ed.) (in Arabic). Dar Al-Kamal lil-Tiba‘ah wa Al-Nashr.
13. Salama, D. H. (2007). Altarjamat fi aleasr aleabaasi [Translation in the Abbasid era] (in Arabic). Al-Quds Open University.
14. Shay’a, A. A. (2020). Abraz al-mutarjimīn fi al-‘asr al-‘abbasi al-awwal [The most prominent translators in the first Abbasid era] (in Arabic). Journal of the College of Education, 39(2), 171–182.
15. Touqan, K. H. (1963). Turath al-‘Arab al-‘ilmi fi al-riyadiyat wa-al-falak [The scientific heritage of the Arabs in mathematics and astronomy] (in Arabic). Dar al-Shurūq.