1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization by Justin ParrottPublication Date: 05-01-2012
Al-Hassani (mechanical engineering, emeritus, Univ. of Manchester, UK) is chairman of the Foundation of Science, Technology and Civilisation in Manchester, England, which created the 1001 Inventions exhibit at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The official companion to the exhibit, this book addresses the problem of the lack of awareness on the part of many Westerners of how Muslims have contributed to world civilization. It provides a high-quality catalog of technologies invented by Muslims, starting from the early days of Islam and extending through the modern age, divided into seven categories: home, school, market, hospital, town, world, and universe. Chapters are complete with highlights of each invention, biographical information on the luminaries who created them, and several fun-color drawings, photographs, or detailed diagrams of complex devices. Significant quotations and helpful sidebars complement the main text. Researchers will fred particularly useful the reference section, which lists additional scholarly resources on each invention. Also included are a helpful index and a glossary of Arabic terms. VERDICT Available in Arabic and Turkish, this book will spark the interest of general readers, students, and scholars alike.
- Justin Parrott