Which scientific ideas spread from the Islamic world to East Asia under Mongol rule?

Under the Mongol Empire, the period of stability known as the Pax Mongolica facilitated a significant exchange of knowledge across Eurasia. During the Yuan dynasty, several scientific and technical contributions from the Islamic world were introduced to China.12

Key areas of exchange included:

• Astronomy: Arab-Persian astronomical knowledge and instruments were brought to China, where the astronomer Guo Shoujing operated an observatory. However, Chinese scholars largely maintained their own traditional astronomical frameworks rather than adopting Middle Eastern theoretical models.2
• Medicine: Middle Eastern physicians and surgeons practiced in China during this era, though Chinese medical theory remained distinct and largely uninfluenced by Western practices.2
• Geography: Arabic geographical knowledge was incorporated into 14th-century Chinese world maps, which began to depict the Middle East, Europe, and the accurate triangular shape of the African continent.2
• General Sciences: Advances in mathematics and cartography also circulated eastward, enriching the intellectual landscape of the empire.1

Despite these introductions, Chinese civilization remained largely Sino-centric, and much of this foreign knowledge was limited to professional circles rather than becoming integrated into the broader Chinese worldview.2