Among the series of medieval English translators, mathematicians, and natural philosophers of England who traveled extensively in search of Arabic texts was Adelard of Bath. He is responsible for the conversion of Arabic-Greek learning into Latin.

Abelard was born in approximately 1075 in Bath, England. An extensive traveler, he went to study at Tours and later taught at Laon. Leaving Laon, for the next seven years he journeyed to various cities and countries, including Salerno, Syria, Cilicia, Spain and possibly Palestine before returning to Bath in 1130. During his travels, however, it was possible that he learned Arabic in Sicily and received Spanish-Arabic texts from other Arabists who had lived in or visited Spain.

Adelard made significant contributions to the field of philosophy with the writing of two treatises: De eodem et diverso, dedicated to William, bishop of Syracuse and written before 1116, and Quaestiones naturales written prior to 1137 and perhaps...