Art and science probably flourished in Muslim culture for many reasons. Like Islamic art is characterised by the use of geometrical floral or vegetal designs in a repetition known as the arabesque. The arabesque is important in the culture because it is used to symbolise the transcendent, divine and infinite nature of God. Science has also helped the Muslim culture and has raised the lack of scientific literacy in different aspects of the modern Muslim world. For example around the 15th century Muslim mathematicians and astronomers developed of almost all areas of mathematics.
The significance of the 1893 World's Colombian Exhibition in regards to ragtime was that it was the first time large numbers of Americans were exposed to the style.