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Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

bbc.com

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Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#141

Post by MichaelZuo »

pradn wrote: post #132
SeanLuke wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So what about Bachelor and Baccalaureate both being words that have their pre-Latin roots in Arabic What evidence do you have for this extraordinary claim? > Or the fact that ceremonial graduation garb in the EU and US, from the robes to the caps, is also based in Arab tradition. This is also an unfounded claim. University garb is derived from monstic order garb, which in turn is from early Nicean period monk tradi…

Wiktionary states the following for "baccalaureate": From French baccalauréat, from Medieval Latin baccalaureatus, from Latin baccalaureus, an alteration of baccalārius (“young man aspiring to knighthood”), to resemble bacca lauri (“laurel berry”) (the ancient symbol of victory). Compare bachelor. For "baccalaureus": Alteration of baccalārius, influenced (by folk etymology) by Latin bacca ("berry") and laurea ("laure…

Folks on HN sometimes have very unusual beliefs but that was definitely eyebrow raising.

Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#143

Post by jhbadger »

fwlr wrote: post #114

I remember being taught in school about the important Muslim contributions to science, philosophy, and mathematics. It has been interesting to learn over time that much of this was inherited from Indian scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians (and it has been disquieting to learn what “inherited” is a euphemism for).

True, but in turn when we do hear about the Indian contributions, we tend to think they were all Hindus, rather than recognizing the great contributions of the Buddhists at Nalanda. While Buddhism has little presence in India today, that's where it started.

Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#144

Post by rramadass »

fwlr wrote: post #114

I remember being taught in school about the important Muslim contributions to science, philosophy, and mathematics. It has been interesting to learn over time that much of this was inherited from Indian scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians (and it has been disquieting to learn what “inherited” is a euphemism for).

Not only India, but Persia, countries in The Levant, North Africa and Mediterranean were highly developed before the advent of Islam (which originated amongst desert tribes). It is their knowledge which gave rise to the so called "Golden Age of Islam". Islamic conquest merely acted as a conduit for the spread of these ideas from one geographical region to another (a la the later Mongol Empire).

Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#145

Post by [deleted] »

fwlr wrote: post #114

I remember being taught in school about the important Muslim contributions to science, philosophy, and mathematics. It has been interesting to learn over time that much of this was inherited from Indian scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians (and it has been disquieting to learn what “inherited” is a euphemism for).

[deleted]

Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#146

Post by selimthegrim »

rramadass wrote: post #144
fwlr wrote: post #114

I remember being taught in school about the important Muslim contributions to science, philosophy, and mathematics. It has been interesting to learn over time that much of this was inherited from Indian scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians (and it has been disquieting to learn what “inherited” is a euphemism for).

Not only India, but Persia, countries in The Levant, North Africa and Mediterranean were highly developed before the advent of Islam (which originated amongst desert tribes). It is their knowledge which gave rise to the so called "Golden Age of Islam". Islamic conquest merely acted as a conduit for the spread of these ideas from one geographical region to another (a la the later Mongol Empire).

Central Asia certainly played its role too. I invite you to consider that when Jai Singh II built Jantar Mantar, he used "Islamic" sources (Zij) as well from there.

Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#147

Post by kragen »

vishalchandra wrote: post #89
SeanLuke wrote: post #17

[dead]

In a similar way it’s possible to quibble over the definition of the word democracy. If the ability of women to vote is considered essential for democracy, then the world’s oldest democracy is New Zealand and not the US. But rather than going by dictated definitions, if we go by popular perceptions of the words, then Nalanda is a university and US became a democracy before New Zealand.

does anyone think the us is the world's oldest democracy tho

several of the swiss cantons have been democratic to some degree for 700 years and quite democratic since before 01776

(though women didn't get the vote there until the 01970s)

Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#149

Post by guenthert »

bnralt wrote: post #128
Symbiote wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Or the fact Muslims are just as capable as Christians at promoting theories with very little evidence to support their arguments. Both of your assertions are unproven theories, with the evidence against them: bachelor originally meant a young knight who followed another (though the etymology before that is uncertain), and academic robes derive from similar (European) mediaeval clerical and secular clothing.

There's a scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding where the father says that the etymology of all English words can be traced back to Greek[1]. When someone challenges him with the word "Kimono," he pauses for a second, and then concocts a semi-plausible sounding explanation about how the word evolved from a Greek word. A comedy, but I think it does reflect how a lot of people can be so impressed by their own culture that…

> For example, I was surprised to find that a common myth among Germans was that the USA almost had German become its official language, and German only lost out by a single vote.

That myth does exist, but I do not think that it is a belief commonly held by Germans (i.e. people living in Germany, not referring to those US citizens tracing their heritage to the Fatherland here). I heard about it only long after crossing the pond. I rather think it's spread by people interested in German language/German culture albeit living in the USA. And I don't think anyone takes it too seriously.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-german-vote/

EDIT: I stand corrected: it's not only known in Germany, but was apparently first spread there in 1847: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhlenberg-Legende

Re: Nalanda University flourished for more than seven centuries

#150

Post by Aspos »

MichaelZuo wrote: post #141
pradn wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wiktionary states the following for "baccalaureate": From French baccalauréat, from Medieval Latin baccalaureatus, from Latin baccalaureus, an alteration of baccalārius (“young man aspiring to knighthood”), to resemble bacca lauri (“laurel berry”) (the ancient symbol of victory). Compare bachelor. For "baccalaureus": Alteration of baccalārius, influenced (by folk etymology) by Latin bacca ("berry") and laurea ("laure…

Folks on HN sometimes have very unusual beliefs but that was definitely eyebrow raising.

Yeah, it is ridiculous to believe "baccalaureate" could have originated from "one who may teach others". It is far more plausible that this word originated from "stick" or "berry".
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