What Have the Muslims Ever Done for Us? Islamic Origins of Western Civilization

In Monty Python’s famous film “The Life of Brian,” Reg, the “inspirational” leader of the revolutionary party—the PFJ (Peoples’ Front of Judea)—convenes a secret meeting to rally his comrades to overthrow the “oppressive and much reviled” Roman Empire. Having pointed out that the Romans have taken everything from us and our fathers’ and our fathers’ fathers … his speech rises to its climax with the words, “And what have they ever given us in return?” After a long pause someone utters, “the aqueduct.” This then leads to a series of similar interventions as the floodgates were now truly open. “Public order” someone shouts out, which is then followed up by another comrade’s ringing endorsement, “Yeah, you’ve got to admit Reg, it’s been a lot safer around here since the Romans came along” (which is then met with rousing cheers of approval from the whole audience). And after a whole series of similarly awkward and increasingly rowdy interventions, Reg finishes his rallying speech with the words, “Alright, but apart from sanitation, the aqueduct, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?”