Pathways of Knowledge Transmission: From the Greek to the Arabic Tradition

Abstract

This paper discusses scholarly exchanges between the Greek- and Arabic-speaking worlds during early Islamic times by outlining pathways of knowledge transmission within the broader framework of Arabs’ keen interest in knowledge acquisition. It contextualizes the hypothesis on the Greek contribution to the Arabic linguistic thinking and discusses challenges in documenting direct access to Greek sources by early Arabic grammarians. By bridging the roles of the caliphate and scholarly activities, it finally delves into the role of knowledge circulation and the significance of indirect influences.

Keywords

• Arabic
• Syriac
• Greek
• Byzantine
• linguistic traditions
• knowledge circulation