While the contention over the forefathers of calculus is well known, many are unaware of a similar conflict over the progenitor of algebra. Some contend this title belongs to Diophantus with his introduction of symbols for unknown quantities; others argue the moniker is more properly suited to al-Khwarizmi who’s work better embodies abstraction from specific numbers and a more comprehensive approach to algebraic problems. In this talk, we will explore the merits of both sides of this debate. In doing so, we will see how Eastern mathematicians preserved and improved upon Western results and methods as the latter entered a dark period in its mathematical history.