The Impact of Islam On European Civilization

Ways of Influence

The impact of Muslims on Medieval Europe is so undeniable that any assessment of the history of this era without analysis of the role that Muslims played is incomplete.  From around the eleventh century Medieval Europe gradually became familiar with some aspects of Islamic civilization and through Muslims with some of Greek heritages.

In general, one can say that the Islamic culture and sciences found their ways to Medieval Europe in four ways:  1) European intermingle with Muslims, 2) Scholarly works such as studying and translation, 3) Crusade wars, and finally 4) commerce.

1. European Intermingle with Muslims

From its very first centuries Islam expanded to some parts of the Europe.  Up to 715 some Greek Islands, north Italy (Sicily), and many cities of Spain were under the domain of Islamic rule. Narbonne in the north of France was for a while under Muslim control. Spain and Sicily were among regions in which the Islamic culture and civilization flourished. Establishment of schools, scientific centers, houses of translations and emergence of prominent scholars in various fields were some of the results of this civilization. The City of Toledo was the center of cultural and scientific activities and had a rich library. Sicily was a center from which books were sent to different important European universities and effected the development of knowledge in Europe.

Muslims, Christians and Jews used to live together peacefully and exchange their knowledge and experiences. Muslims carried a reach culture and civilization and Europeans were eager to obtain it. Muslims in Europe had more cultural and scientific presence than political and military ruling, so that long after their political and military presences were over these cultural and scientific influences continued to be present. This mingling brought a dramatic change in all areas of life in regions Muslims dominated. Following this, agriculture, technology, for example paper industry, exploring minerals, art such as music and architecture, life style, urban development, philosophy, sciences and literature were unprecedentedly developed. As an example, Muslims brought irrigation systems to Spain after which various kinds of agricultural products such as different types of grains, fruits and vegetables flourished in Spain.

In addition to this, political relationships between some European and Islamic governments helped the transmission of the Islamic culture and civilization.  Montgomery Watt says: “Charlemagne was in diplomatic relations with the caliph of Baghdad, Harun ar-Rashid, as well as with the latter’s enemy, the Umayyad emir of Spain; and by this channel some knowledge of the vastness and power of the Islamic world might have reached Europe.”

[2. Crusades]

2. One of the tragic events in the relation between Muslims and Europeans were the Crusades. The Crusade wars started around 1095 and continued up to 1291. Despite the fact that this long war had devastating losses and many casualties, by entering Europeans in the Islamic world and their close connection with Muslims they became acquainted with various aspects of Islamic culture and civilization and tried to adopt it and import it to Europe.

As an example, when Fredrick II conquered Jerusalem, he was astonished by Islamic architecture. In his court there were many Muslim mathematicians and philosophers. He learned Arabic and employed translators to translate Islamic works. He himself was interested in Islamic sciences. It is well known that he sent some philosophical questions to Ibn Sabin de Murci, a Muslim philosopher of Spain, and received the answers, which is known as Sicilian Questions.

3. Trade

Another way of Islamic cultural impact on Europe was through trade. Both Muslim and European merchants who imported goods to Europe from the Islamic world were effective in this issue. Muslim merchants in different parts of the world especially in East Asia played an important role in the expansion of Islam. As Watt says, Islamic culture did not developed in Europe only through Muslim presence, but the export of goods which were produced in Muslim lands was also effective in this regard.  It is notable that Jewish merchants were also active in this area. They were familiar with different languages and played the role of medium between Islamic and Christian cultures.

Among the skills related to trade that developed in Europe were shipbuilding and seafaring. Seafaring was advanced among Muslims. From Kilwa in east Africa through Malaka Strait in Malaysia was covered by Muslim seafarers. In the second half of twelve century, Spanish and Portuguese shipbuilders more than others learned from Muslim experiences in this area. One of the Muslim contributions in this regard was the mariner’s compass. Watt says:”The main steps in the development of the mariner’s compass seem to have been shared between the Arabs and Europeans.”

Another significant contribution of Muslims in advancing seafaring skills was providing nautical charts. One of the evidences in this regard is the presence of many Arabic words in European languages in this field. According to many historians, Europeans barrowed the science of Geography from Muslims.  One of the influential scientists in this regard is Idrisi (1100).