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the great schools of the world； the elder Greek philosophy； the
Alexandrian； the present Baconian school of physics； have had a deeper
motive for their search； a far higher object which they hope to discover。
But indeed； the Mussulmans did not so much wish to discover truth； as to
cultivate their own intellects。 For that purpose a sharp and subtle
systematist； like Aristotle； was the very man whom they required； and
from the destruction of Alexandria may date the rise of the Aristotelian
philosophy。 Translations of his works were made into Arabic； first； it is
said； from Persian and Syriac translations； the former of which had been
made during the sixth and seventh centuries； by the wreck of the
Neoplatonist party； during their visit to the philosophic Chozroos。 A
century after； they filled Alexandria。 After them Almansoor； Hairoun
Alraschid； and their successors； who patronised the Nestorian Christians；
obtained from them translations of the philosophic； medical； and
astronomical Greek works； while the last of the Omniades； Abdalrahman；
had introduced the same literary taste into Spain； where； in the thirteenth
century； Averroes and Maimonides rivalled the fame of Avicenna； who had
flourished at Bagdad a century before。
But； as I have said already； these Arabs seem to have invented nothing；
they only commented。 And yet not only commented； for they preserved
for us those works of whose real value they were so little aware。
Averroes； in quality of commentator on Aristotle； became his rival in the
minds of the mediaeval schoolmen； Avicenna； in quality of commentator
on Hippocrates and Galen； was for centuries the text…book of all European
physicians； while Albatani and Aboul Wefa； as astronomers； commented
on Ptolemy； not however without making a few important additions to his
knowledge； for Aboul Wefa discovered a third inequality of the moon's
motion； in addition to the two mentioned by Ptolemy； which he did；
according to Professor Whewell； in a truly philosophic manneran
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apparently solitary instance； and one which； in its own day； had no effect；
for the fact was forgotten； and rediscovered centuries after by Tycho Brahe。
To Albatani； however； we owe two really valuable heirlooms。 The one is
the use of the sine； or half…chord of the double arc； instead of the chord of
the arc itself； which had been employed by the Greek astronomers； the
other； of even more practical benefit； was the introduction of the present
decimal arithmetic； instead of the troublesome sexagesimal arithmetic of
the Greeks。 These ten digits； however； seem； says Professor Whewell； by
the confession of the Arabians themselves； to be of Indian origin； and thus
form no exception to the sterility of the Arabian genius in scientific
inventions。 Nevertheless we are bound； in all fairness； to set against his
condemnation of the Arabs Professor De Morgan's opinion of the Moslem；
in his article on Euclid： 〃Some writers speak slightingly of this progress；
the results of which they are too apt to compare with those of our own
time。 They ought rather to place the Saracens by the side of their own
Gothic ancestors； and making some allowance for the more advantageous
circumstances under which the first started； they should view the second
systematically dispersing the remains of Greek civilisation； while the first
were concentrating the geometry of Alexandria； the arithmetic and algebra
of India； and the astronomy of both； to form a nucleus for the present state
of science。〃
To this article of Professor De Morgan's on Euclid； ｛2｝ and to
Professor Whewell's excellent 〃History of the Inductive Sciences；〃 from
which I； being neither Arabic scholar nor astronomer； have drawn most of
my facts about physical science； I must refer those who wish to know
more of the early rise of physics； and of their preservation by the Arabs；
till a great and unexpected event brought them back again to the quarter of
the globe where they had their birth； and where alone they could be
regenerated into a new and practical life。
That great event was the Crusades。 We have heard little of
Alexandria lately。 Its intellectual glory had departed westward and
eastward； to Cordova and to Bagdad； its commercial greatness had left it
for Cairo and Damietta。 But Egypt was still the centre of communication
between the two great stations of the Moslem power； and indeed； as Mr。
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Lane has shown in his most valuable translation of the 〃Arabian Nights；〃
possessed a peculiar life and character of its own。
It was the rash object of the Crusaders to extinguish that life。 Palestine
was their first point of attack： but the later Crusaders seem to have found；
like the rest of the world； that the destinies of Palestine could not be
separated from those of Egypt； and to Damietta； accordingly； was directed
that last disastrous attempt of St。 Louis； which all may read so graphically
described in the pages of Joinville。
The Crusaders failed utterly of the object at which they aimed。 They
succeeded in an object of which they never dreamed； for in those Crusades
the Moslem and the Christian had met face to face； and found that both
were men； that they had a common humanity； a common eternal standard
of nobleness and virtue。 So the Christian knights went home humbler
and wiser men； when they found in the Saracen emirs the same generosity；
truth； mercy； chivalrous self…sacrifice； which they had fancied their own
peculiar possession； and added to that； a civilisation and a learning which
they could only admire and imitate。 And thus； from the era of the
Crusades； a kindlier feeling sprang up between the Crescent and the Cross；
till it was again broken by the fearful invasions of the Turks throughout
Eastern Europe。 The learning of the Moslem； as well as their commerce；
began to pour rapidly into Christendom； both from Spain； Egypt； and Syria；
and thus the Crusaders were； indeed； rewarded according to their deeds。