"Islam is emerging as the cultural and economic Superpower of the 21st Century"

Jihad Watch ^ | September 30, 2007 | Robert Spencer

[Popocatapetl]

The entry of literature from Constantinople began somewhat later, during the reign of Michael VIII Palaiologos, and only entered Italy in force around the 14th Century.

“Even after its fall in 478 A.H./1085 A.D., Toledo maintained its Arabic stamp for several centuries; Muslim scientists, Arabized Christians and Jews continued their meetings in the courts of its Christian monarchs and translated Arabic books into Latin.

These books were either Arabic translations from Greek, Persian and Indian books or they were written by Muslim scientists themselves as new works. They were equally new to Europe with its learning system restricted to religious hymns.

The translators’ school in Toledo became a major cultural centre attracting scientists and scholars from various parts of Europe. One of the senior scientists who supervised this scientific movement was Jorgede Rada, the archbishop of Toledo (1170-1247 A. D). He knew several languages including Arabic which helped him greatly to make use of Arabic sources and in writing the Islamic chapter in his sizeable Cronica Del Toledano on the history of the Romans, Goths and Arabs.

When Alfonso The Wise became king of Spain in the middle of the thirteenth century he supported the Toledo school, and patronized its scientists, encouraging them to continue their translation work. He even took part in laying down the plan of work.

This renaissance was characterized by the use of the Castilian (Spanish) language instead of Latin in writing literary, historical and philosophical works. Through this approach, this school cast all these Arab, Latin and Greek works into a Castilian mould. This king’s concern was not limited to Toledo as a cultural center because he established other centres at Murcia and Seville which he made his capital city.”