This list seems very Western. Are there Eastern developments that should be added?
* Al Khawarizmi's development of algebra
* Al Zahrawi's creation of commonly used surgical instruments
* Ibn Sina's Canon
* Ibn Al Haytham's description of optics and how human vision works
* Ibn Khaldun as the founder of modern sociology.
Similarly, Ibn Sina's Canon was a compendium of existing practices from the time.
Those two compendiums have been extremely valuable, but one shouldn't classify compendium's as great intellectual achievements.
When discussing optics of human vision, don't stop at Ibn Al Haytham, but include Al Razi and Ibn Sina. You should also include Galen, whose prior work was the foundational achievement.
He formalized it from what I recall. Formalization is as important as the initial discovery.
> but one shouldn't classify compendium's as great intellectual achievements.
You seem to be quite certain that both of these compendiums lacked any original contributions from their authors. May I ask why that is the case?