Gone Medieval Medieval Roots of The Modern Alphabet
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Dec 5, 2025 Dr. Elizabeth Drayson, a historian specializing in medieval Iberia and cultural exchanges, dives into the alphabet's evolution. She reveals how Egyptian hieroglyphs transformed and highlights the Norman Conquest's influence. The disappearance of unique letters like thorn (þ) and ash (æ) marks a significant shift. Drayson also discusses the role of translation networks in Toledo, showcasing how Islamic knowledge enriched European thought through collaboration and shared cultural exchanges.
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Cross-Cultural Transmission Changed European Learning
- Medieval travel and translation brought Arabic medical and scientific texts into Europe, reshaping learning and practice.
- Figures like Constantine the African and Fibonacci illustrate how knowledge and numerals crossed cultural routes to transform Europe.
Toledo's Translation Schools Were Key Conduits
- Major Greek mathematical and scientific works survived via Arabic translations before moving into Latin in medieval Spain.
- Translation schools in Toledo, often with Arab and Jewish collaborators, mediated this multi-century transfer.
Renaissance Relied On Arabic Scholarship
- Renaissance narratives downplayed Arabic contributions despite continued reliance on them.
- Copernicus and Newton drew on Arabic sources, showing Islamic scholarship's deep influence on European science.
