When we study the
impressive efforts in mathematics, science, medicine and philosophy in this
period we’ll encounter four main languages that merge and frame the production
of this scholarship: Greek, Latin,
Hebrew and Arabic. Each has its own
geographical range and base of use.
The Map below shows us
the range of each linguistic group and where the main intellectual centers of
production occur during this period. The
locations also closely follow the rise of university towns placed in major
commercial centers. In other words the
other element here is the Commercial Revolution that took place from about 1100
onward and transformed European towns.
One might argue that a commercial revolution was already underway in the
Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asia with their strong commercial ties with
the Indian Ocean and Silk Route land and sea-based routes, and their
intellectual and material trade with India and China. The extensive study of Chinese culture and
technology by Joseph Needham establishes the superior development there in
almost all areas of science and technology during this same period. But for our purposes today we’ll focus on the interaction
between Europe (so-called West) and the interaction with Muslim civilizations
and scholarship.
The Spread of Arabic generally coincides with the spread of Islamic societies, dynasties and empires from 632 CE to 1500. You may also view this interactive map of the Arab Conquests of the same period:
Islamic civililzation map
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| Area in Green shows spread of Muslim civilization and also the use of Arabic either as a main or secondary language. Source: Peter von Sivers, Patterns of World History (2012) |
