Six years after it debuted in England, the ground-breaking 1001 Inventions exhibition has arrived in the US capital of Washington, DC for a six-month run, after attracting more than three million people at other stops including a 2011 run at the Abu Dhabi Science Festival. An Arabic version is touring the Middle East, with productions in other languages in the works. Visitors to the current stop at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC can witness the wonders of a civilisation that spread across southern Europe, the Middle East and parts of Africa, Asia and China.
“During this period, men and women of many faiths – and none – worked together, building on ancient ideas of scholars who came before them, and making breakthroughs that helped pave the way for the European Renaissance afterwards,” said Ahmed Salim, the exhibition’s producer and director.
How long has the exhibition been running? Where did it begin and where will it end?
The first 1001 Inventions exhibition was launched at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, England, in 2006, to great public acclaim. Modified versions were displayed in the British Parliament, European Parliament and at the United Nations. In 2009, the philanthropic arm of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group Saudi Arabia came on board as our strategic global partner and funded the construction of a larger touring exhibition, which then launched at the London Science Museum in January 2010. We received 400,000 visitors, five times the expected number.
National Geographic has just published the third edition of our book, 1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, and we are planning to launch several more books about the history of science, technology and culture in the Muslim world. We also hope to build on the phenomenal success of our educational film, 1001 Inventions and The Library of Secrets, which has been downloaded more than 22 million times and showered with awards at film festivals in Cannes, London, Los Angeles and New York.
How has it changed perceptions on the achievements and contributions during the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation?
1001 Inventions promotes an accurate and more inclusive public awareness of the enormous contributions to science, technology and culture that came to us from Muslim civilisation. However, what surprises many visitors is the diversity within that civilisation. Many are surprised to see how many of the scientific heroes of that era were not Muslim. The exhibition highlights the significant achievements of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, et cetera, scientists and scholars who were living within or connected to what is known as Muslim civilisation.
1001 Inventions also highlights the enormous impact made in mathematics, engineering, medicine, law, administration, and so on by the women of Muslim civilisation. Seeing these towering figures from history, who were respected and admired by their communities, certainly challenges uninformed stereotypes.
Tell us more about the achievements by women.
For example, visitors will meet Al Astrulabi, a female maker of astrolabes in the 10th century, whose unique expertise was widely respected and she worked directly for the Emir. Our audience is also introduced to Fatima Al Fihri, a young heiress who had lived in Fez [Morocco] and whose passion for education led to her founding the world’s first modern university – a multi-faculty, multi-subject institution of higher learning that offered free education to both men and women. Her legacy, the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, is still operating today.
How will a new generation of scholars be inspired?
Our primary objective is to encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology. We can achieve this by bringing to life inspiring, historic role models through our books, exhibitions, films, and we have even developed classroom materials for school teachers, which can be downloaded for free. We know that it's not enough to simply tell the story. We need to make it relevant to the -audience.
The exhibition is just only about a kilometre from the White House. How significant is it to hold this exhibition in such a location?
Being in the heart of the diplomatic and political centre of the US means that some of the most powerful and influential people in the world will have the opportunity to learn about the underappreciated, yet important, effect the Muslim world has had on the way we live our lives -today.
1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization includes a foreword by the Prince of Wales; how has this publication helped add value to the exhibition?
The exhibition is accessible to the layman who has no prior knowledge of this astonishing period of history. The official companion, 1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, features 350 fully illustrated pages giving the reader a more in-depth understanding of the subject.
The 1001 Inventions exhibition is introduced with a film and divided into zones. Highlights include:
• The Hollywood actor Sir Ben Kingsley assuming the role of the 12th-century engineer Al Jazari in the film.
• The home zone looks at the 13th-century "Elephant Clock" by Al Jazari, which pioneered automation, as well as examples of toothbrushes, fountain pens and cameras.
• School looks at learning, the development of algebra, trigonometry and geometry – and the secret behind the way we write modern numbers.
• Medical demonstrates how medical knowledge and treatment influenced medicine today, including the rise of state-funded hospitals and welfare systems.
• Town explores the spread of innovative domes, arches, vaults and towers visible today, as well as hammams and environmentally friendly building designs and traditions.
• World shows how geographers, explorers and scholars influenced map-making and features travellers such as Ibn Battuta and the aviator Abbas Ibn Firnas.
• Universe looks at astronomers and instrument-makers, the development of observatories and the lunar calendar.
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
The biog
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
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The five pillars of Islam
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Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
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5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5