Discover the rich legacy of the peoples of the Arab world. Ink filled pens, mattresses, and bars of soap -- these are only some of the inventions and innovations that have been passed down through the millennia from the peoples of Arab lands. Readers may be surprised to learn that people from the Arab world have also given us the scalpel, sherbet, planetariums, and three-course meals. The school that became the University of Al-Qarawiyin in Fez, Morocco, was founded in 859 CE. According to many experts, it is the oldest university still operating today.