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From: berman@psuvax1.UUCP (Piotr Berman)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Islam (long but informative)
Message-ID: <1674@psuvax1.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Jul-85 05:13:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: psuvax1.1674
Posted: Tue Jul 30 05:13:58 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Aug-85 05:19:18 EDT
References: <264@harvard.ARPA> <11000113@uiucdcsb>
Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ.
Lines: 27

> 
> I wonder how Islam contributed to the Greek Civilization. I would
> rather say it destroyed it when the Turks demolished the Byzantine
> Empire and burned Greece from east to west. They even blew up
> part of Parthenon. Just look at what happened to the (one-time)
> Glorious St. Sofia in Constantinople the most important Cathedral
> of all Christianity (at that time). Just a few weeks ago the Turks
> demolished an ancient Greek church (a precious piece of art) in 
> Istanbul despite the protests of the Greek government and numerous
> other international organizations. Of course I have nothing against
> Islam but I was just wondering about their contributions ......

The ages VII through XII were not the most interesting era in Europe.
Head bashing with swords was one of the tipical pasttimes.  During this
time Moslem were studying Aristotle, Plato, Euclides etc., developed
notions of algebra and algorithm (al-gibra and al-gorithm).  Only afer
numerous contacts of Europians with Muslim the more enlightened part of
Middle Ages begun.
As far as destroing or drastically "remodelling" churches by Turks,
remeber what Spanish did after their Reconquista.
When one is dismayed by the current wave of shovinism, fundamentalism
etc. in Muslim countries, it is good to remember that Europe was 
indulging itself in similar vices no more than 50 years ago.
50 years is not much, when one inspects the development of a civilization
through ages.
 
 P. Berman