Comparing Ancient Indian and Greek Thought: Al-Biruni's Comparative Approach

Al-Biruni's treatise on India from the year 1030 aimed to equip Arabic-speaking readers with knowledge about Indian culture. He compared Indian and Greek philosophy and science, noting parallels such as the belief in reincarnation. Al-Biruni presumed his readers' familiarity with Greek ideas due to the Greek Arabic translation movement. Indian texts were also translated, particularly in the fields of medicine and astronomy, making them important sources in the Islamic world.