The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-06-09

Even before this, however, it
is said that Ali, the son-in-law
of Mohammed. gave himself up
to letters and later ca1iphs fol-
lowed his example.
In every study, we first &C
quire what has already been
known on the subject. and SO
with the Saracens.. To them we
owe the translafions of almost
all Greek literature, especially
philosophic and scientific. 1t is
uncertain as to what trans
lations of the poets were made:
Libraries were established;
great reservoirs of learning.
Altman, the servant caliph of
Bagdad, had agents commits
stoned to collect treasures of
Greek learning in Armenia,
Syria and Egypt, and succeeded
in securing from the Byzantine
Emperor valua BILE collection.
Hakem End of Cordova also
had agents for this purpose,
and requested all men of emf
hence to send to him their
works, and others he employed
TO compose new works on
science and history. It is said
he liked no present so we'll as a
book.
Thus vast Libraries were
founded by these caliphs,
Hakim's own contained 100000
volumes, and there were sew
enty public Libraries in his
realm. In a library in Cairo,
there were 100000 volumes.
They were not less attentive
to the founding of schools and
colleges. Hakem had eighty
colleges in and about Cordova.
In the 10Th Century there were,
in the city and surroundings of
Granda, fifty colleges. In one at
Bagdad, there were 5000 stu
dents. The sons of the caliph's
families were attendants in
these schools, so that the ex-
ample of these royal patrons of
education gave an impulse to
general education.
The caliphs were very toler-
ant toward other nations, had
instructors of other people, in
their colleges, and many stu
dents from all parts of Europe
flocked to their colleges.
The Saracens also formed a
new and quite brilliant liter
allure of their own, remarkable
for it's bulk, and variety of
subjects.
In philosophy they chose
Aristotle as the master and
made extensive commentaries.
Avetroes and his disciples were
among the first who began to
start the spirit of inquiry
throughout Europe. BY the his
tory of Greek literature they
derived a large amount Of
scientific knowledge and the
methods of investigation that
had been used by ancient
scientists. The experimental
method, which had been used
in Alexandria, they drew from
obscurity and used in physics
and alchemy. This prepared the
way for such followers as New
ton and Calico.
They cultivated mathematics
and astronomy, reformed the
calendar, first used the pend
ulum, and made some important
discoveries. AS they progressed
: in the physical sciences, SO
would they naturally in med
ical sciences. In Bagdad, at one
time, there were $50 licensed
physicians.
They also cultivated a certain
: lighter literature, some poetry
and marvellous tales. Their his
: torians, while voluminous, were
: nearly chroniclers or amalists.
But from all these mental &C
tivities those were also good
practical results. They set an
!, example in skillful agriculture,
wrote treatises on irrigation
| 4 4
,, Their domestic life gave to us
new ideas of personal comforts.
They attained a very high de-
gree of civilization in their
, home life, with splendid build
ings, palaces and brilliant
gardens. Consequently we are
indebted to them in the useful
arts of lille as much as in the
{ higher branches of learning.