The Role of Syriac in the Reception of Greek Learning in the Middle East and Beyond

It is well known that Syriac played an important role in the transmission of Greek philosophy and sciences to the Islamic world. Following a survey of the kinds of materials which were translated from Greek into Syriac, an attempt will be made to explore what characterizes the transmission of learning from Greek to Syriac in comparison with the reception of Greek learning in other parts of the world, as well as in the more general context of the cultural interaction between Europe and Asia.