[calenel]

Do you mean recently? I can't think of any recent beneficial contributions but the arabs are responsible for algebra.

[HankReardon]

Yes, recently, within the last 500 yrs. Any advances in any area.

[tal hajus]

Responsible for algebra? And that is supposed to be a good thing?

[katana]

The Arabs basically inherited and, unlike the barbarian west, failed to destroy the existing records from the Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and Persian periods.

While western Europe (except for Ireland) was conquered by pagan barbarians, resulting in the loss of much of what defines civilization, items like the writings of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, and the mathematics already developed by the Persians and Greeks were preserved and translated into Arabic. Those Arabic texts later made their way via Andalusia (Spain) into western Europe and helped to spawn the Renaissance.

In other words, they transmitted what had already been created but for a time lost by the Europeans. Their original contributions were minimal. Since those times (e.g. in the last 500 years) they have contributed nothing and more recently have done their best to destroy anything which the rest of the world might describe as civilized.

It is true that for a time (the 700's to the 1600's AD) urban life and culture in the regions controled by Muslims was more advanced in many ways than in Europe. This, however, had much more to do with the after effects of the fall of the west under the barbarian hordes and what we now call the "Dark Ages" than anything the Arabs can take direct credit for.

[FITZ]

I can't think of any recent beneficial contributions but the arabs are responsible for algebra.

And that was before they became Muslim. Arabs once had accomplishments but they've chosen to return to a more barbaric, primitive lifestyle.

[FreedomPoster]

>>I can't think of any recent beneficial contributions but the arabs are responsible for algebra.

I think if you dig into the history there, they mostly carried it from their Hindu conquests to the West. Or was that just the concept of Arabic numerals? Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can comment.

[uncommonsense]

I can't think of any recent beneficial contributions but the arabs are responsible for algebra.

That's what they say, but history shows India taught the Arabs algebra. Scratch that off your short list of Arab accomplishments.

[IYAS9YAS]

I was taught that the Egyptians (back in the days of the Pharoahs) were the ones who gave us Algebra. Long before these morons came around. Same with what we now call Arabic numerals. They apparently came from India. All were hijacked by the Arabs.