DefinePK

Abstract

Knowledge is the natural pursuit of man and the main source of intellectual evolution. In human history, only those nations that valued knowledge have reached the pinnacle of development, civilization, and civilization. This tradition of knowledge was not limited to Muslims or Westerners, but followers of other civilizations and religions have also been pioneers in this field. An important place among these nations is occupied by the Copts, who are considered the oldest Christian nation in Egypt. Copts are actually descendants of ancient Egyptians who converted to Christianity in the early centuries and later kept their cultural and scientific tradition alive in the Islamic era. The history of the Copts is full of ups and downs. Their religion, language, art, and scientific thought reflect the ancient civilization of Egypt. In the early Christian era, the Copts actively participated in scientific fields such as compiling the inspired books, teaching, and translating. Later, when Islam took Egypt under its sphere of influence, the Copts not only lived on the principles of peaceful coexistence with the Muslims but also participated in the field of science and art. It would not be correct to limit the scholarly services of the Copts only to their religious status, because their services are also present in important scholarly fields such as philosophy, medicine, logic, astronomy, and translation. Especially during the Abbasid period, when the capital Baghdad became the center of science and art, Coptic scholars rendered prominent services in institutions such as the House of Wisdom. The aim of this article is to highlight the scholarly roles of the Copts that they played in promoting knowledge in different periods. This study has been conducted from a historical and analytical perspective so that the reader can gain an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the scholarly heritage of the Copts.