Overview
From about A.D. 500 to 1100, knowledge of Aristotle's philosophy was almost completely lost in the West. During this period, Aristotle's thought was preserved by Arab and Syrian scholars who reintroduced it to the Christian culture of Western Europe in the 1100's and 1200's. Aristotle enjoyed tremendous prestige during this time. To some leading Christian, Jewish, and Arab scholars of the Middle Ages, his writings seemed to contain the sum total of human knowledge.
Aristotle's authority has declined since the Middle Ages, but many philosophers of the modern period owe much to him. The extent of Aristotle's influence is difficult to judge, because many of his ideas have been absorbed into the language of science and philosophy.
Excerpt adapted from the "Aristotle" article, The World Book Encyclopedia, © 1999