Here is a link to let you all know that what Arabs and Islam have contributed for the world Civilizations. From Mathematics all they way to Science and Astronomy. You will find a bunch of very useful information.
Firstly, I dont understand why this thread is in 'religion' section.
I was reading Machieveli in afternoon where he discusses 'Why Men feel the past is more glorious than it was' I dont remember his analysis completely. But basically he said that bad things and mundane things in past are either left not mentioned, and given what is known, past sounds way more glorious than present.