#5:_The History of Computing: Deciphering Cryptographic Messages

In this lesson, "The History of Computing: Deciphering Cryptographic Messages," we explore the pioneering work of 9th-century scholar Al-Kindi, the “Philosopher of the Arabs.” The video delves into Al-Kindi’s groundbreaking cryptanalysis methods, focusing on his use of letter-frequency analysis to decode encrypted messages. By combining mathematics and linguistics, he revolutionized codebreaking at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. His book, the world’s first treatise on cryptanalysis, laid the foundation for modern computing and cybersecurity. Rediscovered in the 1980s, Al-Kindi’s interdisciplinary approach highlights the power of logical thinking in solving complex problems, shaping the history of computational advancements.