Question

Victor Robinson makes a series of comparisons between Europe and Cordova in terms of urbanization* and progress.

“Europe was darkened at sunset, Cordova shone with public lamps; Europe was dirty, Cordova built a thousand baths…Cordova changed its undergarments daily; Europe lay in mud, Cordova’s streets were paved; Europe’s palaces had smoke-holes in the ceiling, Cordova’s arabesques were exquisite; Europe’s nobility could not sign its name, Cordova’s children went to school; Europe’s monks could not read the baptismal service, Cordova’s teachers created a library of Alexandrian* dimensions.”

*urbanization: process of making an area more urban (city)
*Alexandrian: referring to the great Library of Alexandria, Egypt, which was the most influential library of the ancient world before being destroyed by the Romans
Based only on this document, what were the effects of Islamic Civilization during the Middle Ages?

Answer 1

Based only on the quoted passage, Islamic civilization during the Middle Ages produced marked advances in city life, public works, hygiene, education and the arts compared with contemporary Europe. Specifically:

- Urban infrastructure and lighting: cities like Cordova had public lamps and paved streets.
- Public health and sanitation: there were many public baths and daily changes of undergarments, implying higher standards of cleanliness.
- Better-built architecture and decoration: palaces featured exquisite arabesques rather than crude smoke-holes.
- Higher literacy and schooling: children attended school and teachers built large libraries (“Alexandrian dimensions”).
- Greater general education among elites: nobles and clergy in Cordova could read and sign their names, unlike many in Europe.

In short, the document portrays Islamic civilization as more urbanized, hygienic, artistically refined, and intellectually advanced than Europe in that period.