[Dumb_Ox]

The Islamic philosophy that thought relatively highly of the powers of human reason and opposed skepticism, and which relied heavily on Aristotle (and some Platonic notions), was in the west incorporated into -church- doctrine, into Acquinas. Which the later forces were reacting -against-.

*Very* interesting interpretation. I've not seen the Enlightenment in this way before. Perhaps William of Ockham played a role similar to that of Al-Ghazali: the emphasis on the omnipotence of God swiftly led to an emphasis on the impotence of man.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The author leaves out the effect of the Mongol invasions which destroyed the infrastructure of Central Asia. Bridges, canals, roads, cities, etc. (Similar to what happened in the South after the Civil War.) The fundamentalists said that this was Allah's punishment for leaning towards reason rather than religion.