AL-Jazari: The greatest mechanical engineer ever?

The inventor of the crankshaft which was one of the most important invention since the wheel as it paved way to the invention of the modern engines. He also invented some of the very first mechanical clocks.

Some more info about him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Jazari

I have been thinking and reading him about him for almost a week or so now. I don't normally watch tv however when I do it is usually the modern marvels...the history channel etc. I actually saw the show in which they were discussing his "book of knowledge".

They went over his inventions and he did built lot more than a crankshaft how about a torpedo? He really automated the tasks and till this day machines basic functions are the same. So he did lay down a foundation for lots of things.

In the end they mentioned how we were better than the romans and more free thinking than the greeks all this based on this book...most of the islamic scripture has yet to be studied lets see what else they find.