Al-Biruni

Known for

Measured the Earth's radius from a hill near Nandana fort (Punjab, Pakistan); wrote Kitab al-Hind

Biography

Persian polymath from Khwarazm who joined the court of Mahmud of Ghazni and travelled in India.

Contributions

• Calculated the Earth's radius from the dip of the horizon seen from a hill near Nandana fort (Jhelum district)
• Measured the specific gravity of many metals and minerals
• Wrote a detailed, objective study of Indian religion, science and society
• Discussed the possibility that the Earth rotates on its axis

Major works

• Tahqiq ma lil-Hind (Kitab al-Hind)
• Al-Qanun al-Mas'udi
• Al-Athar al-Baqiya (Chronology of Ancient Nations)