Two pages from the manuscript of Al-Muradi Kitab al-asrar fi nata'ij al-afkar preserved at the Biblioteca Medicea-Laurentiana in Florence, Italy

Al-Muradi, who thrived in Al-Andalus in the 11th century, wrote 'The Book of Secrets about the Results of Thoughts', describing water clocks, including one with gears, and other machines with novel features. His book also included descriptions of large mechanical toys, war-machines, machines for raising water from wells and a portable universal sundial.