1001 INVENTIONS: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilization owe to the Islamic World. -HRH Prince Charles Modern society owes a tremendous amount to the Muslim World for the many groundbreaking scientific and technological advances that were pioneered during the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization between the 7th and 17th centuries, a National Geographic book points out. Every time you drink coffee, eat a three-course meal, get a whiff of your favorite perfume, take shelter in an earthquake-resistant structure, get a broken bone set or solve an algebra problem, it is in part due to the discoveries of Muslim Civilization. The societys often overlooked achievements are shared in 1001 INVENTION: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization (National Geographic; ISBN 97B-1-4262-0934). Many of the most important scientific and technological discoveries and building blocks of modern civilization came out of Muslim society during the centuries after the fall of ancient Rome - a period known as the Dark Ages in European Civilization. But while the Western World was in the doldrums, a renaissance was occuring in the Muslim World. The book highlights these outstanding achievements and the people behind them. For example: The House of Wisdom (8th-14th century) (Whereas a period known as the Dark Ages in European Civilization) an immense scientific acadamy in Baghdad where an impressive collection of worldly knowledge was accumulated and developed, was an unrivaled centre for the study of ★Jabir ibn Hayyan(722-815), known as the father of chemistry, worked in Iraq devising and perfecting the processes of sublimation, distillation, crystallization, purification, oxidation, evaporation, filtration and others. He discovered processes for the preparation of hair dyes, leather and illumination manuscript ink. ★Al-Zahrawi(936-1013), a physician and surgeon from Muslim Spain, wrote a 30-volume medical encyclopedia, giving detailed accounts of dental, pharmaceutical and surgical practices. He designed more than 200 surgical instruments such as syringes, droppers, scalpels and forceps. His book also described dyes that turned blond hair black, lotions for straightening curls and suntan lotion. ★Al-Jazari(12th century) was a highly skilled engineer from southern Turkey whose connecting rod system revolutionized the concept of automatic machines, including the Elephant Clock - a symbol of status that incorporated robotics with moving, time-telling figures. ★Ibn Nafis(1210-1288), a famous philosopher and physician who was born in Syria and lived in Egypt, was the first to describe pulmonary circulation of venous blood passing into the heart and lungs via the ventricles. He was finally credited with this discovery in the early 20th century when his manuscript was discovered in Berlin. ★Sinan(1489-1588) was the master architect for the Ottoman Empire. He designed and built 477 buildings during his long career in the service of three sultans in Turkey. His work includes the Selimiye Mosque in Edirine, which has the highest, most earthquake - defying minarets in all of Turkey. His designs revolutionized the dome, allowing for greater height and size. The books 7 chapters: Home, School, Hospital, Market, Town, World and Universe, are richly illustrated and provided insight into the everyday life of early Muslim Civilization and the related and subsequent Western growth. There is also an extensive reference section, a glossary of subjects and people, charts, timelines and maps illustrating the inventions and contrubutions, remarkable photographs, artifacts, historic documents and drawings. Salim T.S. Al-Hassani, chief editor for the book, is emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Manchrster, United Kingdom, where he is also a proffessorial fellow in the school of Languages, Linguistics, and Cultures. He has been awarded numerous grants, published more than 200 papers in international journals and books and been the recipient of many prizes. In 1999, Al-Hassain founded the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilization(FSTC), a not-for-profit acadamic organization supported by a global network of historians of science, which supported the creatiin of 1001 Inventions. 1001 Inventions is now a world-renowned, award-winning educational brand whose exhibitions, films, books and educational materials have reached more than 50 million people around the world. The groundbreaking educational 1001 Invention and the Library of Secrets, featuring award-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley, has been downloaded more than 20 million times and won Best Film award in Cannes, London and Los Angeles and at the New York Film Festival. Al-Hassani was raised in Baghdad and has lived in the United Kingdom for more than 50 years. In 2009, he was honored by becoming the 83rd honorary fellow of the British Science Association.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 09:38:44 +0000
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