Herman from the Carinthia region (Herman de Carinthia) was born in 12th century, probably in middle Istria. He was recorded under the following names: Dalmata, Secundus, Sclavus and de Carinthia. He was among the first to translate Arabic scientific works into Latin, among others also the Islamic theological and religious literature. He did research into works from the field of astronomy and astrology by Arabic scientists such as Sahl ibn Bishar and Abu Mashar. He wrote an original text, On Essences (De essentis) and translated extracts from Ptolomaius's Almagest, parts of Euclid's Elementa to which he added his commentary, astronomical little boards by al-Khwarizmi and the fundamental study titled De compositione et usu astrolabii. He also wrote an original mathematical work, Liber de invenienda radice Hermani Secundi. Herman de Carinthia played an important part in the European acquaintance of Arabic sciences and consequently antique Greek scientific basis, thus contributing to the shaping of the medieval rational scientific thought.