Arab Travelers and Western Civilization - New Edition

One of the most important ways Arabs became acquainted with aspects of European civilization in the nineteenth century was through their travels to the West. Some travelers described their observations and wrote about their experiences, which were then read by readers who had not personally experienced their journeys. Literature played a significant role in introducing some Arabs to European civilization and in disseminating the innovations, principles, and new systems emerging from Western heritage. Within this framework, the selected book, "Literature in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries," was chosen by a computer science researcher because it is one of the most important art forms depicting the Arab's interaction with the West and the resulting shock to the Arab psyche and society. This interaction led to a profound economic, intellectual, and cultural decline that continues to affect the Arab world to this day.