The Muslim Discovery of Europe

Rating:
Summary: A worthwhile read
Review: Well worth reading, although a bit tedious in places, and the occasional grammatical lapse can be distracting. I have no quarrel with the majority of the book, but the rather cursory dismissal of comparison with Japan seems only to reveal the author's lack of knowledge of east asian history, as does his complete failure to make a comparison with China. Thoughtful expansion on such comparisons would add significantly to the book. I also observe that the author is, at least to a certain extent, the victim of the rather romantic notion enshrined in our educational tradition that the Renaissance was some flowering ex nihilo, owing little to the Middle Ages. Jean Gimpel's "The Medieval Machine" would be a good starting point for those who would be disabused of such prejudice. I recommend "The Muslim Discovery of Europe" and look forward to Mr. Lewis's upcoming "What Went Wrong," even though I suffer from the preconception that I know the answer to the question. It should at the very least offer food for thought.