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Posted by Christopher Waldrop
June 28, 2008 |
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The contributions of Arabic culture to the world are simply breathtaking. In addition to rescuing works of classical literature, including the writings of Plato and Aristotle, which eventually led to the Renaissance in the West, Arabs have also given the world centuries of beautiful art, original literature, and expanded knowledge in scientific fields like astronomy and mathematics. And then there are numerous words in English that are derived from Arabic, including zenith, which comes to us, via Old French, from the term samt ar-ras, which means literally “path over the head”. In English it means the point directly overhead, the very top of the sky, although it’s also used to mean the highest point a thing or person can achieve.
Comments
O’ Jala, as the Spanish say, I’ll take this opportunity to say that your writing is wonderful, and it is a pity that it is seemingly undiscovered at this little pigeonhole of a site. I WILL spread the word that you are worth reading, and send you on and on………..where it stops, nobody knows.
I’ll also submit that the fabled Islam of which you speak, has not done one damn thing in 700 years except remain intellectually static due to its very nature. How much of their scientific glory was stolen from the Greeks, I’ll let you explore. Meanwhile, check out the signs in front of the Islamic Center on 12th, they are incredible, and I do mean in-credible. Right down from the wine tasting (chuckle).