[James C. Bennett]

Even “Damascus” steel is actually Wootz steel, from southern India.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootz_steel

“Islamic” architecture, like all those Iranian mosques, isn’t really as Islamic as one would want to believe. Such wonders of architecture are largely from regions east of Iraq, which the invading Muslims assumed for themselves.

Arabia, for example, has very little significant architecture of the category. Even the Turks took it from the Persians. It would be safe to assume that the architecture developed in Persia long before it was infested by Islam.

[dennisw]

Even “Damascus” steel is actually Wootz steel, from southern India.>>>>>>>

I have never heard of a Wootz sword so I have to give Muslims credit for taking the Wootz steel and sticking with it, working with it, improving it to make the famous swords made of Damascus steel.

Then again Syria, Lebanon, Iraq have always had Christians so maybe they worked the Damascus steel to make the swords