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Exhibit highlights 1001 inventions of the Muslim world
A new exhibit at London's Science Museum explores the often-forgotten contributions to science from Muslim scholars.1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in our World follows the contributions of Muslim civilization from the 7th to the 17th centuries. After the disintegration of the Roman Empire, scientific study lapsed in Europe, but soon dynamic civilizations based in the Middle East took up the slack. From important centers such as Damascus and Baghdad came developments in medicine, mathematics, astronomy, geography, and a host of other studies. Muslim scholars were the first to build gliders, the first to create free public hospitals, and the first to use carrier pigeons s a means of quick, long distance communications.
The exhibition is divided into sections such as Home, Town, and Market, each highlighting different contributions to science and daily life. Also discussed is how civilizations in the Middle East preserved many ancient Greek and Latin books in Arabic translations when they were lost in Europe. Later they were translated back into Greek and Latin so Renaissance scholars could read them, thus bringing much of Europe's heritage back to Europe.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is a replica of a 13th century clock by the Arab scholar Al-Jazari that stands more than twenty feet high and celebrates the diversity of knowledge by having an Indian elephant holding up an Egyptian phoenix, Arab figures, a Persian carpet, and Chinese dragons. The clock runs on moving water following a system invented by the Greeks.
In an interview with the BBC, Professor Salim Al-Hassani, one of the exhibition's organizers, suggested that science lapsed in Islamic civilization after the twin blows of the Crusades and the destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols. Much of the Muslim world was taken over by the Ottomans, a bureaucratic state that stifled scientific initiative. Then the scientists of Renaissance Europe adopted their learning and progressed it further, much like the Muslim world took the learning of the Classical World and developed it.
1001 Inventions runs until April 25. Admission is free.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Europe, United Kingdom
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BobJ Jan 23rd 2010 2:03PM
Boy, those Muslims are a brainy bunch, but what have they done lately besides blowing themselves up and beheading journalists? Whoops, sorry-- they're great targets for USMC snipers.
AR Feb 2nd 2010 1:32PM
right because all 1 billion Muslims worldwide are blowing themselves up on a daily basis? The IRA terrorized the UK for decades, gosh aren't you scared of all those crazy Irish living right next door??
uksweet Jan 24th 2010 2:01PM
So,
Not happy with the 101 things the islamic world didn't bring Us, We have 1001 things the Islamists didn't bring Us. Why is it such an important and advanced set of Peoples are so backward now?
Can You realy tell Me there are many Muslim Countrys that are more advanced than the West, or even have Democracy?
It's Like the United States, take credit, but invent sod all....