Examines the intellectual climate of Islam during the Buyid dynasty of 945-1055 AD, which produced a flowering of philosophical and literary humanism, and a powerful assertion of individuality in the arts and politics, and turned Baghdad into a milieu of cultural and religious ideas from far reaches of the world. Details the main schools and circles, and outstanding individuals. Substantially revised from the 1986 first edition. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.