Fernando
The last paragraph in
http://i-cias.com/e.o/saladin.htm summarises why people are unaware of Arabic contribution to western civilisation. A dispassionate consideration of Saladin's experience with the Crusaders makes very interesting reading. in a contest of "culture", Saladin wins hands down.
Perhaps if people also consider that 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 are called ""Arabic numerals", that might help identify some slight(?!) contribution. < g >
Regards
JR
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1