Lorella Ventura is "Cultore della materia" (expert of the subject) in History of Islamic Countries at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Investigates the contemporary reception of Hegel in the Arab world.

Looks at how Hegelian thought contributes to illuminating Arab culture and history.

Provides ideas and materials for the reflection on the reciprocal East-west views.

1. Introduction.- 2. Widespread views in Hegel's time.- 3. World history and the role of peoples.- 4. Hegel's view of Islam.- 5. The "modern" West and the non-Western world.- 6. Translations and the transmission of "modern" ideas in Muhammad ¿Al¿'s Egypt.- 7. The foreign universities in Syria: competition among the "West".- 8. The Syrian Protestant College: between mission and education.- 9. Religion and reason in the view of the American missionaries in Syria.- 10. The presence of Hegelian elements in the thought of Josiah Strong.- 11. The textbooks of Syrian Protestant College and Hegel's philosophy of history.- 12. The Université Saint-Joseph and French culture.- 13. The direct reception of Hegel as a recent phenomenon: Syria and Lebanon.- 14. Hegel today: conversations with Y¿suf Sal¿ma and Joseph Mäal¿f.- 15. Conversations with Ahmad Barq¿w¿ and George Saddiqn¿.- 16. Hegel's philosophy of history and the thought of Nadrah al-Y¿zaj¿.- 17. Dialectics and freedom: the interpretation of Hegel in Syria.- 18. The reception of Hegel in Egypt and the "Spirit of time" (Zeitgeist).- Appendix. Hegel's works translated into Arabic.