Die geistige Kultur der semitischen Volker

Reprint of a lecture the author gave on February 6th, 1901 in Erlangen titled “the intellectual culture of the Semitic peoples”. After an overview of the different Semitic peoples and their history, the author dwells on the cultural influence of medieval Spain. Other topics are a short analysis of Semitic languages including their strengths and weaknesses. The alphabet is considered to be a major contribution of the Semitic peoples to world culture. The literature of Islam is discussed next, especially its poems as well as the superior writing of the Old Testament. Arabic contribution to art and especially science is highlighted.