9 moments

1. Birth at Kath

   0973-09-04 · Kath (modern Beruniy), Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

   

   Al-Biruni was born at Kath, the Afrighid capital in Khwarazm. Kath is identified with modern Beruniy, Uzbekistan. Coordinates represent modern Beruniy, identified with historical Kath.

2. Samanid patronage in Bukhara

   0995-01-01 · Bukhara, Uzbekistan

   

   After the overthrow of the Afrighids, al-Biruni left Khwarazm for the Samanid capital and obtained the patronage of Mansur II. The exact arrival date within 995 is not specified. The source connects his departure to the overthrow in 995; it does not give a day or month of arrival in Bukhara.

3. Lunar-eclipse observation at Kath

   0997-05-24 · Kath (modern Beruniy), Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

   

   Al-Biruni observed a lunar eclipse at Kath as part of a coordinated observation with Abu'l-Wafa in Baghdad, enabling comparison of the cities' longitudes. Coordinates represent modern Beruniy, identified with historical Kath.

4. Court of Qabus at Gurgan

   1003-08-14 · Gurgan (historical Jurjan), Golestan Province, Iran

   

   While supported by Qabus, ruler of the Ziyarid state, al-Biruni remained in Gurgan and observed lunar eclipses there. This period included the composition and dedication of his Chronology. Coordinate is a representative point for historical Jurjan/Gurgan near modern Gonbad-e Kavus; the exact court site is not established.

5. Lunar-eclipse observation at Jurjaniyya

   1004-06-04 · Jurjaniyya (Gurganj; near modern Kunya-Urgench), Dashoguz Region, Turkmenistan

   

   Al-Biruni had returned to Khwarazm by this date and observed a lunar eclipse from Jurjaniyya, the city also called Gurganj. Coordinates represent the archaeological and modern Kunya-Urgench area associated with historical Jurjaniyya/Gurganj.

6. Adviser at the Ma'munid court

   1009-01-01 · Gurganj (near modern Kunya-Urgench), Dashoguz Region, Turkmenistan

   

   At Gurganj, al-Biruni served Khwarazmshah Abu'l-Abbas Ma'mun as companion and adviser and undertook delicate diplomatic missions. The source places this service within 1009–1017. The quoted passage follows identification of Ma'mun's court as being in Gurganj; the coordinate represents historical Gurganj/Kunya-Urgench.

7. Residence and research in the Indian subcontinent

   1017-01-01 · Northwestern Indian subcontinent, South Asia

   

   From 1017, al-Biruni accompanied Mahmud's campaigns in the Indian subcontinent and lived there for several years. His research from this period informed his study of India. The evidence supports presence in the Indian subcontinent but does not identify a single settlement; coordinates are a representative point for the broadly documented northwestern area.

8. Taken to Ghazni

   1017-07-01 · Ghazni, Afghanistan

   

   Following Mahmud of Ghazni's invasion of Khwarazm, al-Biruni was among the scholars brought to Ghazni, where he spent much of the rest of his life. The account qualifies whether the scholars were prisoners, but directly states that they were brought to Ghazni.

9. Death at Ghazni

   1048-12-09 · Ghazni, Afghanistan

   

   The canonical English Wikipedia biography records al-Biruni's death at Ghazni on this date. Other scholarly accounts report uncertainty and have proposed a different day in December 1048. The exact death date is disputed: Encyclopaedia Iranica notes uncertainty and reports a proposed date of 11 December 1048.