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Showing posts from November, 2010

ISLAMIC AND CHRISTIAN SPAIN IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES by Thomas F. Glick

AT THE CROSSROADS OF CIVILIZATION 1. The Arab Conquests: Opening or Closure [19] The global impact of the Islamic conquests has been an issue of historical debate since Henri Pirenne formulated the problem a half century ago. In Pirenne's view, the conquest of the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, of Spain, and of strategic islands had shut off the mainsprings of the movement of world trade which had flourished during the late Roman times, with the result that western Europe felt an intensification of ruralization and was impelled to return to a closed, moneyless, "natural" economic system. The conquests, then, set in motion a chain of events that was, centuries later, to result in the shifting of the balance of power in Europe from the Mediterranean region northward. In fact, the Islamic conquest had more nearly the opposite effect than that posited by Pirenne: it opened the Mediterranean, previously a Roman lake, and, by connecting it with the Indian Oc

Ibn Rushd (Averroes) (1126—1198)

Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd, better known in the Latin West as Averroes, lived during a unique period in Western intellectual history, in which interest in philosophy and theology was waning in the Muslim world and just beginning to flourish in Latin Christendom. Just fifteen years before his birth, the great critic of Islamic philosophy, al-Ghazzali (1058-1111), had died after striking a blow against Muslim Neoplatonic philosophy, particularly against the work of the philosopher Ibn Sina (Avicenna). From such bleak circumstances emerged the Spanish-Muslim philosophers, of which the jurist and physician Ibn Rushd came to be regarded as the final and most influential Muslim philosopher, especially to those who inherited the tradition of Muslim philosophy in the West. His influential commentaries and unique interpretations on Aristotle revived Western scholarly interest in ancient Greek philosophy, whose works for the most part had been neglected since the sixth century. He

"This was the house where lived Abul-Qasim."

The street in Córdoba where he lived is named in his honor as "Calle Albucasis". On this street he lived in house no. 6, which is preserved today by the Spanish Tourist Board with a bronze plaque (awarded in January 1977) which reads: "This was the house where lived Abul-Qasim." In the 14th century, the French surgeon Guy de Chauliac quoted al-Tasrif over 200 times. Pietro Argallata (d. 1453) described Abū al-Qāsim as "without doubt the chief of all surgeons". In an earlier work, he is credited to be the first to describe ectopic pregnancy in 963, in those days a fatal affliction. Abū al-Qāsim's influence continued for at least five centuries, extending into the Renaissance, evidenced by al-Tasrif's frequent reference by French surgeon Jaques Delechamps (1513-1588). Abū al-Qāsim also described the use of forceps in vaginal deliveries.[3] He introduced his famous collection of over 200 surgical instruments. Many of these instruments were never used

"Decision point" by George W Bush

The book is written thematically, not chronologically. This is important because it gives the book a much different flavor than one that is written month by month, and year by year. This book was not ghost written. This is his hand and his words, and it comes through on every page - all 512 of them. I had no expectations when I opened the cover other than to enjoy the book. I found it was written with a wonderful light hand, Bush being a story teller, no question about it. And he pulls no punches, he tells you the real deal and he does not filter it. Other people will write pro and con on this book depending upon their political filters. There will be none of that here. I am only interested in enjoying a book and telling you that you will also or maybe not. I am going to give you a flavoring of the book and you will know immediately if this is for you: * In the Presidency there are no do-over's * Quitting drinking was one of the toughest decisions he ever made * It wouldn't be

ACTIVE CITIZEN WORKSHOP

Active citizen workshop held in Mid city hotel Near Dera Adda Multan at October 28, 2010 with the coordination of Awaz Foundation and British council. It was four days workshop that ended at October 31, 2010. There were 29 Participants in this workshop from varieties of culture, ages, education, social standard, mental approach and gender. It was like a group of flowers with different colors,size and different perfumes. Mr. Sultan and Ms. Shabnum Ayyub were Facilitator of this workshop who performed their assigned tasks beautifully and effectively. CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF THIS WORKSHOP AS AN OBSERVER AND PARTICIPANT The scope of this workshop was to make realize the youth of this area that they have abundance of qualities too much that can bring a good CHANGE, the change that is long desire of our homeland. Decreasing the trust deficit between each others, between different social groups, between peoples of rural areas and urban areas. Understanding to each others that is key in this