The House of Wisdom

Name: The House of Wisdom
Brand: Allen & Unwin
SKU: 9781408801215
Price: 29.99 NZD
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How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization

By Jonathan Lyons

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( 1,087 ratings, 146 reviews)

Summary

The House of Wisdom explores the remarkable intellectual achievements of the Arab world during the Middle Ages, a period when Western Europe was mired in the Dark Ages. Jonathan Lyons highlights how Arab scholars mastered subjects such as astronomy, navigation, and mathematics, including algebra, and preserved Greek scientific and philosophical texts, notably those of Aristotle. The book reveals the profound influence of Arab knowledge on European civilisation, made possible by figures like Adelard of Bath who brought these ideas westward, shaping the course of history for the last millennium.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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The House of Wisdom

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in history, science, and the cross-cultural exchange of ideas, particularly those curious about the medieval period and the legacy of Arab intellectual contributions to the Western world.

For centuries following the fall of Rome, Western Europe was backward and benighted, locked into the Dark Ages. Arab culture, however, was thriving, and had become a powerhouse of intellectual exploration and discussion that dazzled the likes of British adventurer Adelard of Bath. This title restores credit to the Arab thinkers of the past.

'A wonderful and important book which for the first time presents the Western debt to medieval Arabic learning in a clear, accessible manner ... fascinating ' William Dalrymple News about the contemporary Arab world is constantly in our press, creating a demand to know the history of this fascinating place This page-turning narrative history will captivate fans of Longitude by and Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel

Description

For centuries following the fall of Rome, Western Europe was backward and benighted, locked into the Dark Ages and barely able to tell the time of day. Arab culture, however, was thriving and had become a powerhouse of intellectual exploration and discussion that dazzled the likes of British adventurer Adelard of Bath.

The Arabs could measure the earth's circumference (a feat not matched in the West for eight hundred years); they discovered algebra; were adept at astronomy and navigation, developed the astrolabe, translated all the Greek scientific and philosophical texts including, importantly, those of Aristotle. Without them, and the knowledge that travellers like Adelard brought back to the West, Europe would have been a very different place over the last millennium.

Jonathan Lyons restores credit to the Arab thinkers of the past in this riveting history of science from its earliest and most thrilling days in The House of Wisdom.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

William Dalrymple praises it as "a wonderful and important book" that clearly presents the Western debt to Arabic learning. The Times calls the narrative riveting and fast-paced, while the Guardian highlights Lyons's thorough research into how Arabic science influenced medieval Europe. The Wall Street Journal describes the book as "sophisticated and thoughtful" with a vivid and elegant style.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781408801215

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 March 2010

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 272

Collections

Global History History & Archaeology History & Military Jonathan Lyons Non-Fiction

About the Author

Author and journalist Jonathan Lyons has spent his professional and personal life exploring the shifting boundaries between East and West. After more than 20 years as an editor and foreign correspondent for Reuters, he is now a researcher at the Global Terrorism Research Centre and a PhD candidate in sociology of religion at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He lives in Washington DC. He has a BA with Honours in Russian and History from Wesleyan university and was a Fellow at Columbia University's Harriman Institute of Soviet Studies. He also studied at the Pushkin Institute of Russian language in Moscow.