Lost Enlightenment
Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane
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Lost Enlightenment
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Narrated by:
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Kevin Stillwell
About this listen
In this rich and sweeping history, S. Frederick Starr tells the fascinating but largely unknown story of Central Asia's medieval enlightenment through the eventful lives and astonishing accomplishments of its greatest minds - remarkable figures who built a bridge to the modern world. Because nearly all of these figures wrote in Arabic, they were long assumed to have been Arabs. In fact, they were from Central Asia - drawn from the Persianate and Turkic peoples of a region that today extends from Kazakhstan southward through Afghanistan, and from the easternmost province of Iran through Xinjiang, China.
Lost Enlightenment recounts how, between the years 800 and 1200, Central Asia led the world in trade and economic development, the size and sophistication of its cities, the refinement of its arts, and, above all, in the advancement of knowledge in many fields. Central Asians achieved signal breakthroughs in astronomy, mathematics, geology, medicine, chemistry, music, social science, philosophy, and theology, among other subjects. They gave algebra its name, calculated the earth's diameter with unprecedented precision, wrote the books that later defined European medicine, and penned some of the world's greatest poetry.
One scholar, working in Afghanistan, even predicted the existence of North and South America - five centuries before Columbus. Rarely in history has a more impressive group of polymaths appeared at one place and time. No wonder that their writings influenced European culture from the time of St. Thomas Aquinas down to the scientific revolution, and had a similarly deep impact in India and much of Asia.
Lost Enlightenment chronicles this forgotten age of achievement, seeks to explain its rise, and explores the competing theories about the cause of its eventual demise. Informed by the latest scholarship yet presented in a lively and accessible style, this is a book that will surprise general listeners and specialists alike.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
©2013 Princeton University Press (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Lost Enlightenment
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Thirsty hippo
- 23-08-20
Fascinating history of Central Asia's golden age
There's a tendency in the West to view civilisation in a Western centric way. This book outlines the crucial contribution and magnificence of Central Asia and the Islamic world's golden age as well as offering theories for its rise and eventual demise. A great read and well narrated for audible version.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- The Village Green
- 04-05-15
An enlightening listen
A superb magnum opus that details the rise, apogee and fall of the Central Asian enlightenment. A particular must for those keen to understand some of the leading characters that shaped the Muslim world in both science, logic and Islamic doctrine (both a catalyst for the enlightenment and a cause in its demise). My favourite bit? Almost certainly the author's adept handling of biographical detail and his analysis of the decline, the implications of which we are still living with. The narration was good, although my one slight criticism would concern the levels at which they recorded the narrator. Sometimes it sounds a little bit compressed.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Jim
- 23-11-13
Fascinating, surprising and beautifully written
As a fan of popular history it's always a treat to discover a time and place that have been previously under-reported. A massively influential culture of scientific, philosophical, literary, theological and architectural inquiry springs up from the 8th Century to around the fall of Constantinople in a part of the world that is now largely a lawless backwater - Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. The ideas and techniques they create have a significant impact on the development of world culture, for instance, Al-Khwarizmi's maths is so sophisticated that we still garble his name when we use an "algorithm". There's so much fascinating detail to pack in that this could have become dry or overwhelming but Starr holds our interest throughout by focusing on both the incredibly interesting characters and the astonishingly advanced work they did. It's also very well narrated. A real treat.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Anonimo Nonlodico
- 23-04-16
Excellent!
Very good, thorough, intelligent, well written and erudite history of Central Asia. Well worth listening to.
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- Sha S.
- 27-09-16
Can't recommend it enough
challenges your presumptions about the course of history whether you are a European who might not have had the fortune of seeing the world beyond the western lense, an Arab who might have misconceptions about the "Islamic" civilization, or a persian like myself who fails to recognise how much his country's heritage is indebted to a long forgotten civilization...
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 02-06-24
Detailed
Nice flow into different times with respected outlook on different groups. A sound conclusion and stayed on track regarding the topic.
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- Sander C
- 15-02-20
A much-needed work
This is a detailed work for those interested in the intellectual life of scientists and thinkers of central Asia. It serves to demystify the notion of backwarded way of life in these regions and also illuminates the reader on the accomplishment of some of the great thinkers of all time. highly recommended work.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Ed L
- 28-03-20
Looking for ‘needle’ answers in ‘haystack’ history
Very interesting attempt to find answers to the current Islamic stagnation through a very well researched book that should be read and studied by those interested in the historical development of the Islamic thought. I think the book managed to give interesting indications to when the problem had started and why I had lingered since.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Selims
- 13-06-23
Excellent book and narration!
I listened to this book while travelling through Central Asia, it was such a helpful and insightful book. I came away with a deep appreciation for the importance of their contributions to humanity
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-06-17
Wasted opportunity
A fascinating topic made boring by an over elaborate analysis of the many individual scholars who contributed to this period of enlightenment.
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2 people found this helpful