Quote:
Originally Posted by SeattleUte
This is one of the best articles I've read on the subject, and reviews several books on the subject (I've posted this here before but probably no one paid any attention). It's an amazing story. But Islam of today is only a husk of the original Islamic Empire governed by the Umayyad Caliphs. What you call "Islamic" contribution is really primarily Islam being a transmitter of another culture--Classical culture.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17516 |
Very true. Most of my readings leave me to believe that Islam preserved Classical culture, refined some aspects and through Judaism transmitted it to Rome.
It's interesting how things go from East to West to East to West. Which is the best of those books? Perhaps one of those books could be our Book of the Month.