Radical Islamists have contributed to this misunderstanding of Islam as inherently violent, intolerant, and fundamentalist religion and worldview. However, an average Westerner also partakes in this collection of prejudices, as they are not informed enough, nor do they wish to acquaint themselves better with the history of Islam. The Islamic Middle East was a cradle of mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, arts. Even later, while the Western Europe was grappling with medieval bigotry, intolerance, quackery and different forms of witch hunt, Islamic countries have been perhaps the most advanced societies of their time in the scientific, artistic and civilizational sense.
This statement means that in the West, generally meaning the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and Australia due to their shared European-influenced culture, people's understanding of Islam and its history is heavily impacted by fear and exposure to a one-sided narrative of the religion. We are exposed much more in west about horrible acts in the name of Islam, and are told of the many wars and instability in regions that are predominantly Muslim.
We are not exposed to the full spectrum of Islamic culture, and are taught very little about the great contributions of the Islamic world to civilization, such as artwork and major advancements in science and mathematics.
