The House of WisdomThis is the true story of Ishaq, a young boy in ninth-century Baghdad. And it is the story of the House of Wisdom. More than a house, more than a library, more even than a palace, the House of Wisdom was at the very center of the new ideas that flourished in Baghdad. It was here that thousands of scholars gathered to read, to exchange ideas, and to translate the dusty manuscripts that were brought by camel and ship from all over the world. Ishaq cannot understand why ancient words, words from faraway places, can cause such excitement. Then he embarks on a difficult journey seeking lost manuscripts. But it is what he discovers when he returns that ignites his imagination and changes him forever. Lyrical prose and glorious illustrations capture the splendor of Baghdad when it was the center of one of the world's great civilizations. They tell the story of Ishaq's transformation from a bewildered young boy searching for understanding to a brilliant scholar, the greatest translator of Aristotle, whose work preserved Greek thought for civilizations to come. |
Common terms and phrases
adventure AFRICA ancient book ancient Greek Arabs Aristotle's astronomy autumns BABYLONIA basketfuls Beacon Bernard Bibliography books and manuscripts brightening brilliant Caliph al-Ma'mun called Cambridge University Press camel caravans carried CHINA civilization contributions courtyard crowded dark earth editor EGYPT Europe expedition explore father's study felt fire fragrant geography gold Greece happened harbor of Baghdad HEIDE hen Ishaq hidden History House of Wisdom Hunayn hunted hurried ideas imagined INDIA Ishaq looked Ishaq watched Islam Cambridge University journey knew land languages lanterns learned Lewis lighting lived London medicine Medieval Islam MELANIE KROUPA mother night Oklahoma PERSIA Philosophy port quickening reach RENAISSANCE robed sailed sand saw his father separated shaq ships shone silent voice silk smiled someday someone sparked stairs stars strange Thames & Hudson thought of Aristotle thousand scholars thousand years ago translated traveled treasures tree York