The following list is composed of items, techniques and processes that were invented by or discovered by people from Spain. Spain was an important center of knowledge during the medieval era. While most of western and southern Europe suffered from the collapse of the Roman Empire, although declining, some regions of the former empire, Hispania, southern Italy, and the remainder of the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire, did not to suffer from the full impact of the so-called Dark Ages when education collapsed with the collapse of the empire and most knowledge was lost. The Islamic conquests of places such as Egypt, which was a major part of the Byzantine Empire, and other places which were centers of knowledge in earlier times, gave the Muslims access to knowledge from many cultures which they translated into Arabic and recorded in books for the use of their own educated elites, who flourished in this period, and took with them to the Hispania after it fell under Muslim control. Much of this knowledge was later translated by Christian and Jewish scholars in the Christian kingdoms of the Reconquista from Arabic into Latin, and from there it spread through Europe.
Inventions and discoveries from the Golden Age of Al Andalus Mercuric oxide, first synthesized by Abu al-Qasim al-Qurtubi al-Majriti (10th century). Water and weight driven mechanical clocks, by Spanish Muslim engineers sometime between 900–1200 AD. According to historian Will Durant, a watch like device was invented by Ibn Firnas. Inheritance of traits first proposed by Abu Al-Zahrawi (936–1013 AD) more than 800 years before Austrian monk, Mendel. Al-Zahrawi was first to record and suggest that hemophilia was an inherited disease. Spherical Trigonometry - work of Abū Abd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Muʿādh al-Jayyānī (989–1079 AD). Greatly influenced Western mathematics, including the works of Regiomontanus. Animal Testing, first recorded use of animals for medical testing was done by Ibn Zuhr, known as Avenzoar, (1094–1162). Inhalation anesthesia, invented by al-Zahrawi and Ibn Zuhr. Used a sponge soaked with narcotic drugs to be inhalated by the patient. Eye glasses, first invented by Ibn Firnas in the 9th century. Modern surgery. Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (936–1013 AD), better known in the west as Albucasis, is regarded as the father of modern surgery and is the most quoted surgeon of all times. Albucasis invented over 200 tools for use in surgery - many still in use today. Migraine surgery, first performed by al-Zahrawi (936–1013 AD). Ectopic pregnancy, first described by Al-Zahrawi (936–1013 AD). Pharmacopoeia (book of medicine). During the 14th century, the physician from Malaga, Ibn Baytar, wrote a pharmacopoeia naming over 1400 different drugs and their uses in medicine. This book was written 200 years before the supposed first pharmacopoeia was written by German scholar in 1542. First process of creating artificial crystals by Ibn Firnas. Oscillation theory of the obliquity of the ecliptic by Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm ibn Yaḥyā al-Naqqāsh al-Zarqālī, also known as Al-Zarqali or Ibn Zarqala (1029–1087). Averroism - the school of philosophy founded by Al-Andalus philosopher Averroes. Averroes in one of the most quoted men of the medieval era and has greatly influenced Western Europe. Equatorium by Ibn al-Samh.
Animation M-Tecnofantasy - is an animation technique, created by Francisco Macián Blasco, that animators use to trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, to produce realistic action similar to rotoscopy.
Architecture and construction Azulejo Calatrava style - The futuristic style of architecture invented and designed by world renown Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. Examples include the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, the planned Chicago Spire, Puente del Alamillo, in Seville, and the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub at rebuilt New World Trade Center site in New York City. Catalan Gothic Catalan Modernisme - a very influential style of architecture used not only in Catalonia but throughout Spain. Its greatest pioneer was the most famous architect Antoni Gaudí and his masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. Hacienda Herrerian Horseshoe arch was first used in Visigothic Spain. Isabelline Gothic Valencian Gothic Valencian Art Nouveau Levantine Gothic Masia Mozarabic Mudéjar style Neo-Mudéjar Palloza Pazo Plateresque Purism architecture Repoblación Spanish Colonial Architecture Spanish Tile Visigothic
Chemistry Pure alcohol distillation Modern toxicology, by Mathieu Orfila (1787–1853). Discovery of vanadium (as vanadinite) in 1801 by geologist and chemist Andrés Manuel del Río (1764–1849) Discovery of tungsten by Fausto Elhuyar and his brother Juan José Elhuyar in 1783. Discovery of platinum by scientist, soldier and author Antonio de Ulloa (1716–1795) with Jorge Juan y Santacilia (1713–1773). Discovery of carbon monoxide and pure alcohol by alchemist and physician Arnold of Villanova (c. 1235–1311)
Computing and Communications
Telekino, pioneering of remote control, by engineer and computer pioneer Leonardo Torres Quevedo (1852–1936) Electronic book by teacher, writer and inventor Ángela Ruiz Robles (1895-1975).
Cuisine Sweet chocolate - the Mesoamericans drank chocolate strait bitter and sometimes flavored with spicy peppers. Spanish conquistadors were not fans of the original mix and instead created their own sweeten hot chocolate by adding sugar from sugar cane. For many years, the Spanish kept their prized chocolate a secret until its expansion into other European courts. Chorizo Jamón ibérico Spanish omelette Jerez - also known as Sherry Paella Spanish cuisine
Economics Development of the first monetarist theory and the quantitative theory of money by economist Martín de Azpilcueta (1492–1586), member of the School of Salamanca. Precursor of international law theory by Francisco de Vitoria (c. 1480/86 – 1546), member of the School of Salamanca. First registered use of paper currency.
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