Since the events of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent "War on Terror", concerns and arguments over Islam, its history and its adherents have become a central theme in media, academic and political discourse. Overwhelmingly, this discussion has been underpinned by a reductive vision in which the historical trajectories of "Islam" and the "West" are not only painted as two monolithic and mutually exclusive civilizations, but also as having a long and violent history of war, opposition and disagreement. In order to see beyond this overly simplistic image, this book illuminates the rich and complex relationship between Islam and the West, arguing that they in fact have another history altogether, one of collaboration, co-existence and co-operation. Specifically, this book proposes a significant reassessment of the impact that Islam has had on the West from the very earliest days of the Islamic empire through to current times, and the interconnectedness between both. This book is therefore designed to provide readers with a comprehensive foundation in the field of the history of the Islamic civilisation and the interconnectedness between both on the cultural and intellectual levels.