A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on the Google homepage that aims to commemorate holidays, events, achievements, and people. Today’s Google doodle pays homage to Ibn Sina, Persian polymath, who today would have turned 1038. Ibn Sina is best known for his contributions in the Islamic Golden Age as one of the world’s most influential philosophers and is often considered to be the father of early modern medicine.

The Islamic Golden Age is the era dated from the 8th century to the 14th century in the history of Islam, during this time many parts of the world were ruled by various caliphates, this period saw scholars, poets, traders, engineers, philosophers and artists in the Islamic world contribute to a multitude of work that contributed to thinking in science, economic development, agriculture, the arts, economics, law, literature, philosophy, technology and cultural. The work preserved earlier traditions and work such as that of Aristotle and also contributed to inventions and innovations. It was seen as the Golden Era for Muslims as Muslims became a hub and at the forefront of furthering science, philosophy, medicine and education.

Google note, “today’s Doodle celebrates Ibn Sina: a life devoted to education and the spirit of learning for the betterment of humankind.”