Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists

This book does not ship until August 5, 2026

Early Muslim culture laid the foundation for the Renaissance of Europe and for nearly every aspect of the modern world. In this age of conflict, Lost History provides a vital look at the Muslim world and its deep connection to all cultures.

Unlike many histories, which focus on the celebrated Arab Golden Age of Baghdad, Persia, and Muslim Spain from 632 to 1258 AD and conclude with the fall of Baghdad, Lost History reveals the many "golden ages" of Muslim thought—from Shiite Iran to Mughal India—extending into the 18th century.

Engaging chapters introduce contemporary professionals, including an accountant, obstetrician, civil engineer, and astrophysicist, whose work can be traced back to early Muslim advancements. Artful flashbacks bring to life remarkable figures such as Al-Ma'mun, who founded Baghdad's international House of Wisdom, where the foundations of modern mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, and literature were developed.

Readers also meet Al-Khwarizmi, often considered the Father of Algebra, whose invention of algorithms makes today's cell phones possible; the revered philosopher Al-Kindi, who wrote, "Nothing should be dearer to the seeker of truth than the truth itself"; the astronomer Al-Ma'mun, for whom a crater on the moon is named; the exiled Emir Abd al-Rahman, who introduced advanced irrigation systems and distinctive architecture to Córdoba, Spain; and the Syrian-born Al-Nafis, who discovered that blood flows from the heart through the lungs and back again.

Finally, readers discover that Omar Khayyam, the beloved poet of the Rubaiyat, was also a brilliant mathematician who calculated the length of the year to be 365.242 days—a figure later confirmed by atomic clocks to within millionths of a second.

As the author writes, "By recovering lost history together, maybe we can really get at the issues of today that will never be solved by force. Because if there is no other lesson to be drawn from Lost History, it is that force rarely ever positively resolves issues of the spirit and the soul—whether in individuals, or in civilizations."

This book does not ship until August 5, 2026

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ ReadHowYouWant
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 27, 2013
• Author Michael Hamilton Morgan 
• Edition ‏ : ‎ Large type / Large print
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 592 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1459667174
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1459667174
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.23 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1.2 x 10 inches