56 HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SCIENCE 



quest (650-750 a. d.), had expanded their empire, not only 

 throughout the Mesopotamian region, but to India on the 

 east and westward along the southern shores of the Medi- 

 terranean until they occupied Spain. In the East, they came 

 into contact with the tradition of Greek science in Asia 

 Minor and at Alexandria, and with the mathematical 

 science of the Hindus in India. In the West, they threat- 

 ened to overrun Europe both in Spain and at Constantinople. 

 In contrast to the intellectual backwardness of the northern 

 barbarians, who conquered the Roman empire, the Arabs 

 showed an immediate aptitude for the older learning. Their 

 civilization exhibited an intellectual quality, particularly 

 along scientific lines. At a time when science seemed hope- 

 lessly lost in Christendom, they quickly assimilated the 

 learning of the ancient world, and also received with enthu 

 siasm suggestions from other sources. In Spain, the Moorish 

 Kingdom attained a cultural and material level above any- 

 thing that existed in Europe before the Italian Renaissance. 

 Paved and lighted streets, running water, architecture of 

 wonderful grace, public libraries, the encouragement of 

 literature and science, and a spirit of toleration were the 

 marks of a civilization that was remarkable for its intellec- 

 tual superiority. 



In their earlier conquests the Arabs exhibited the spirit of 

 the barbarian. They destroyed libraries and other works of 

 civilization. 18 But within a century they were establishing 

 colleges and collecting manuscripts. The court of the 

 Khalifate of Al-Mamun (813-833 a. d.) at Bagdad became 

 an intellectual center rivaling ancient Alexandria. Schools 

 were attached to the mosques throughout the empire. At 

 Bagdad and elsewhere there were colleges for the higher 

 branches. A surprising toleration prevailed, as shown by the 



18 The Khalif Omar is said to have replied, to a request that he spare the 

 remnant of the great Alexandrian library, "If the books agree with the Koran, 

 the Word of God, they are useless, and need not be preserved; if they dis- 

 agree with it, they are pernicious. Let them be destroyed." And the story 

 is that the books were distributed as fuel to the baths of the city. 



