Part of the "Great Gap" must surely be attributed to religious conflict and
fanaticism, first defensively (Battle of Tours, 732 A.D.), then offensively
(Crusades), then again defensively (defense of Vienna), then offensively
(Spanish Inquisition etc.), Russo-Turkish Wars, England's "Great Game" in
central Asia, Dutch conquest of East Indies, England's planting of Israel,
and so on and on. This long history of hatred and warfare blocked most
interchange between Christian and Islamic worlds. (Somehow, Arabic numerals
sneaked through.)

It would be interesting to study Islamic influences on Venice, which bridged
both worlds.

Thank goodness for Edmund Fitzgerald, who brought at least one Persian
cultural gem to us.

Mason Gaffney