Aladdin's lamp

by John Freely

Hardcover, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

509

Collection

Publication

New York Alfred A. Knopf c2009

Description

Aladdin's Lamp is the fascinating story of how ancient Greek philosophy and science began in the sixth century B.C. and, during the next millennium, spread across the Greco-Roman world, producing the remarkable discoveries and theories of Thales, Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Archimedes, Galen, Ptolemy, and many others. John Freely explains how, as the Dark Ages shrouded Europe, scholars in medieval Baghdad translated the works of these Greek thinkers into Arabic, spreading their ideas throughout the Islamic world from Central Asia to Spain, with many Muslim scientists, most notably Avicenna, Alhazen, and Averroës, adding their own interpretations to the philosophy and science they had inherited. Freely goes on to show how, beginning in the twelfth century, these texts by Islamic scholars were then translated from Arabic into Latin, sparking the emergence of modern science at the dawn of the Renaissance, which climaxed in the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century.… (more)

Media reviews

In Aladdin's Lamp, John Freely, a seasoned academic and historian, writes a captivating account of the transfer of scientific ideas between these civilizations. Interlacing historical events with finesse, his story has a nostalgic quality that makes for escapism but falls short of convincing. At
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first glance, we assume that Freely will offer us an exposé of the central part the Islamic world played in the pursuit of science, and the key contributions it made. Instead, it quickly transpires that Freely's handling of Islamic discoveries could be construed as damning with faint praise in comparison with his treatment of Greek knowledge.
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User reviews

LibraryThing member michael1990
when I frist get this story ,I felt amazing sence the author's imagination .Although this book is a fantistic story ,but some throughts and theories are really real and close to our daily life.this book tells a story about a youngboy and his relatives.Aladdin is a poor young ne'er do in a Chinese
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city, who was recruited from the Maghreb, shamans, through their own late father Qaseem as Aladdin's brother, apparently convincing A good Latin and his mother to arrange, set up as a wealthy young man. The shaman's real motive is to convince young Aladdin to retrieve the magic cave from a trap is no wonder a wonderful lamp. After the sorcerer attempts to double cross him, Aladdin finds himself trapped in a cave. Fortunately, Aladdin a magic ring lent to retain his shaman. When he was grinding his hands in despair, he inadvertently grinding ring, Jinni, or "devil", it seems, who takes him home to his mother. Aladdin is still carrying the lamp, when his mother tried to clean it, and the second, more powerful wizard appears, is bound to make light of people's bidding. Light Wizard's help, Aladdin becomes rich and powerful Badroulbadour marry the princess, the emperor's daughter. Wizard to create a wonderful Aladdin's palace - far more than the great emperor himself.

Wizards return to the exchange offer and deception "new for old lamps" Aladdin's wife, who does not know the importance of light, can get his hands lights. He ordered the light of the wizard's palace in the Maghreb, to his home. Fortunately, Aladdin's magic ring to retain, and can summon elf. Although the ring can not directly undo any of the wizard the wizard's magic lamp, he is able to transport Aladdin Maghreb, and help him recover his wife and the lamp and defeat witches.

More powerful and evil magic brothers tried to kill his brother to destroy Aladdin, disguised himself as a woman known for her ability to heal itself. Badroulbadour fell on his disguise, and ordered "women" and stay in her palace in the case of any disease. Aladdin was his hazard warning lights of the wizard, and killed the imposter. Everyone lived happily ever after, Aladdin eventually succeed his father in law's throne.Author : John Freely
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Original publication date

2009

ISBN

9780307265340
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