Muslim Heritage In Our World
4/5
Newly available in Bahrain, this is a coffee table book that is not only beautiful but also interesting and informative.

Many years in development the book has an interesting back story. In 1975 Lord BV Bowden, at the time principal of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), became fascinated by how Muslims in history managed a domain stretching from China to Spain.

He set up an Institute for the History of Muslim Science, Technology and Commerce. One of those recruited was Salim TS Al-Hassani who was later tasked by another historian, Donald Cardwell, to bridge the gap in the history records on engineering.

And so started a quest for knowledge which resulted in the 1001 Inventions Project which comprises a touring exhibition, this book, a teaching pack and a website, www.1001inventions.com.

You’ll learn where coffee came from, who first used deodorant, invented early surgical procedures, looked at renewable energy sources and explained rainbows and tides.

This book really does hold a wealth of knowledge that we can all relate to and, though large and somewhat unwieldy, it would make a great addition to your bookcase (or coffee table) and might even interest the kids – particularly those with a penchant for engineering and the sciences.