11th century in science

Predicted and scheduled events

• List of 11th-century lunar eclipses
• List of solar eclipses in the 11th century

  Optics

• Book of Optics was written by Alhazen.

  Geography

• Al-Bakri wrote about Europe, North Africa, and the Arabian peninsula. Only two of his works have survived. His Mu'jam mā ista'jam contains a list of place names mostly within the Arabian peninsular with an introduction giving the geographical background.
• The Mas'udi Canon - an extensive encyclopedia on astronomy, geography, and engineering, named after Mas'ud, son of Mahmud of Ghazni, to whom he dedicated.
• Leif Ericsson claims to have made landfall at three lands in North America, one of which he names Vinland meaning the land of wine.

  Warfare

• A Chinese manual on warfare includes the earliest known description of gunpowder.

  Printing

• The concept of movable kind for printing is pioneered in China, using fired clay, but it proves impractical.

  Astronomy

• The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology.
• The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries - a comparative study of calendars of different cultures and civilizations, interlaced with mathematical, astronomical, and historical information.
• The Mas'udi Canon - an extensive encyclopedia on astronomy, geography, and engineering, named after Mas'ud, son of Mahmud of Ghazni, to whom he dedicated.
• Understanding Astrology - a question and answer style book about mathematics and astronomy, in Arabic and Persian.
• Astronomers in China and Japan observe the explosion of the supernova which is still visible as the Crab Nebula.

  Medicines

• Pharmacy - about drugs and medicines.

  Surgery

• The first illustrated manual of surgery is written by Abul Kasim in Cordoba.

  Geology and minerals

• Gems about geology, minerals, and gems, dedicated to Mawdud son of Mas'ud.

  Other

• Su Sung, a Buddhist monk, created in China the principle of the escapement in his tower clock worked by a water wheel.

  Births

Deaths