By Susan L. Douglass  - 1999

Beyond A Thousand and One Nights is a collection of primary source material taken from the writings of Muslim scholars, scientists, and historians. This collection is the perfect resource for any educator who wants to give their students an authentic introduction to the scope and variety of Muslim scholarship through the centuries.

Sample readings in PDF format are available below for download.

Let African scholar al-Jahiz tell why paper is better than parchment, written just when that Chinese innovation was being adopted by the Abbasid Empire in Baghdad.

Read a page from Ibn Rushd’s (Averroes) commentary on Aristotle, a work that Thomas Aquinas read by candlelight, and get medical advice from al-Razi.

Let al-Khwarizmi introduce the new branch of mathematics called al-jabr (algebra), with formulas and word problems written in the 9th century, and learn why al-Biruni studied shadows.

Read beautiful lyric poems from Spain that became part of the romantic, chivalric tradition of medieval songs, and get plans for building a mechanical lamp and water fountain.

Laugh as you learn the simple wisdom of Goha, the universal "Charlie Chaplin" figure known across the Muslim world, and ponder deep questions raised by Muslim philosophers.

Follow Muslim geographers, scientists and travelers as they introduce chess and backgammon, make a pilgrimage to Makkah, and take a tour of 10th century Baghdad with one of its famous residents.

Find out what Egyptian scholar al-Jabarti thought of Napoleon’s invasion, and how the Syrian knight Usama viewed the Frankish crusaders.