Al-Ma'mun Al-Ma'mun Abbāsid caliph(813–833)Abbāsid caliph(813–833)

Al-Mamun is renowned for his patronage of learning, commissioning translations Al-Mamun is renowned for his patronage of learning, commissioning translations of classical Greek texts.of classical Greek texts.

He founded the famous He founded the famous 'Bayt al-Hikmah''Bayt al-Hikmah' (House of Wisdom} in Baghdad and (House of Wisdom} in Baghdad and personally presided over discussions on logical,theological,and legal matters. personally presided over discussions on logical,theological,and legal matters.

The The Bayt al-HikmaBayt al-Hikma became an important center of translation for Greek and other  became an important center of translation for Greek and other ancient texts into Arabic. ancient texts into Arabic.

He employed a large number of translators and patronized many scholars. He employed a large number of translators and patronized many scholars.

Al-Ma'mun Al-Ma'mun Abbāsid caliph (813–833)Abbāsid caliph (813–833)

Al-Ma'mun was interested in every aspect of science, Al-Ma'mun was interested in every aspect of science, philosophy and especially in  and especially in astronomy. .

He himself conducted, on the plains of Mesopotamia, two astronomical He himself conducted, on the plains of Mesopotamia, two astronomical operations intended to determine the value of a terrestrial degree. operations intended to determine the value of a terrestrial degree.

The first one to attempt to measure the dimensions of the Earth. The first one to attempt to measure the dimensions of the Earth. 

He assigned two teams of astronomers and geographers and asked them to go He assigned two teams of astronomers and geographers and asked them to go to two different locations east and west and then to measure one degree of the to two different locations east and west and then to measure one degree of the longitude lines (360 in number).  longitude lines (360 in number). 

It was under his patronage that the works of It was under his patronage that the works of Plato, , Aristotle,Hippocrates, and ,Hippocrates, and others were first translated into Arabic.others were first translated into Arabic.