The Hindu-Arabic Numerals c11.87

c11.87

On the other hand, the two leading sources of information as to the life of Gerbert reveal practically nothing to show that he came within the Moorish sphere of influence during his sojourn in Spain. These sources are his letters and the history written by Richer. Gerbert was a master of the epistolary art, and his exalted position led to the preservation of his letters to a degree that would not have been vouchsafed even by their classic excellence.¹ Richer was a monk at St. Remi de Rheims, and was doubtless a pupil of Gerbert. The latter, when archbishop of Rheims, asked Richer to write a history of his times, and this was done. The work lay in manuscript, entirely forgotten until Pertz discovered it at Bamberg in 1833.² The work is dedicated to Gerbert as archbishop of Rheims,³ and would assuredly have testified to such efforts as he may have made to secure the learning of the Moors.