There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world. . . . One of its languages became the universal language of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. . . The reach of this civilization’s commerce extended from Latin America to China, and everywhere in between. And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration. Its writers created thousands of stories . . . of courage, romance and magic. Its poets wrote of love, when others before them were too steeped in fear to think of such things. While modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization I’m talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600. . .

The above is an extract from a speech by Carly Fiorina, CEO of Hewlett-Packard (http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.html). Her description challenges the conception that our modern civilisation grew out of nothing. While the truth is, between 700 and 1600AD Muslim Civilisation thrived and its’ intellectual products contributed greatly to the beginnings of our modern world. Members of this group will receive regular posts of articles about the development of Muslim Civilisation between 700 AD to the present.

“If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world. It is a failure, which stems, I think, from the straight-jacket of history, which we have inherited.” [Prince Charles, extract of a speech given at Oxford University]