What is Maimonides?
'''Maimonides''' was born in the [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravid]] city of [[Córdoba, Andalusia|Córdoba]] in [[Spain]], in 1135. His [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] name was Moses ben Maimon. He is also known as the '''Rambam,''' from the initial letters of his title and name, '''R'''abbi '''M'''oshe '''b'''en '''M'''aimon. Maimonides was a [[Medical doctor|doctor]] by [[profession]].<ref name=WDL1>{{cite web|title=The Guide to the Perplexed|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/3963/|publisher=World Digital Library|accessdate=22 January 2013}}</ref> Maimonides was one of the most important [[Jewish]] [[philosopher]]s of the [[Middle Ages]]. He tried to show that the [[philosophy]] of the [[ancient Greek]] thinker, [[Aristotle]], and [[Judaism]] supported each other.<ref name=WDL1/> ==Important works== Maimonides' main philosophical work was called ''The Guide for the Perplexed''. He wrote it in [[Arabic language|Arabic]] by 1190.<ref name=WDL1/> It has ideas from Aristotle's writings. ''The Guide'' [[wikt:influence|influenced]] [[Christian]] Aristotelian [[theologian]]s, for example, [[Thomas Aquinas]]. In 1168, Maimonides finished a [[commentary]] to the [[Mishnah]], the written version of traditional Jewish [[oral law]]. Maimonides completed these books, called ''Mishneh Torah'', in about 1178. They are one of the most important collections of Jewish [[laws]]. ==Life story== When Maimonides was thirteen years old, the [[Almohad]]s took Cordoba away from the [[Almoravid dynasty]]. The Almohads were Muslims who were conquering [[Al-Andalus]] (Muslim Spain). They forced all non-Muslims to leave, change their religion to Islam, or be killed. This forced Maimonides' family to leave Cordoba.<ref name=WDL1/> They spent twelve years traveling and looking for a home. During these years, he wrote the commentary on the Mishnah. Finally, his family settled in [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]]. In 1166, Maimonides' father died and his brother drowned on a [[wikt:shipwreck|shipwreck]] in the [[Indian Ocean]]. By this time, Maimonides wa