An+Introduction

==Many Westerners have only a vague and amorphous historical view of Islam and the Islamic people: nomadic camel herders wandering the Silk Road bringing spices and other luxuries to European traders, devilish defilers of the Holy Land defeated by courageous European Crusaders, or fantastically rich sultans living in sumptuous splendor à la the Arabian Nights Tales. The reality is much different. ==

==For almost 600 years—from the Hijrah in 622 to the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in 1258—Islam was arguably the most important culture on Earth. It not only bridged the gap between Asian and European cultures, but it also bridged the gap between the ancient and the modern worlds by keeping alive the philosophies, arts, and sciences of Classical Greek culture during the so-called Western Dark Ages. Not only did Islam absorb and spread the knowledge of the ancient Greeks, it was also responsible for the creation of beautiful artwork, wondrous works of architecture, and great advances in science. ==