1001 Inventions and The Library of Secrets

Prince Charles, Heir to the British Throne, said in a recent public speech at Oxford University: "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. It is a failure, which stems, I think, from the straight-jacket of history, which we have inherited. The medieval Islamic world, from central Asia to the shores of the Atlantic, was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished. But because we have tended to see Islam as the enemy of the West, as an alien culture, society, and system of belief, we have tended to ignore or erase its great relevance to our own history."

A major new initiative has been pioneered by Muslim Heritage working with the Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation to address this misunderstanding.

1001 Inventions is a global touring exhibition launched at the London Science Museum in January 2010.  The exhibition will move on to major cities around the world including a launch on Capitol Hill later in 2010, where endorsement by President Obama is currently being sought. Over the next four years the exhibition will be seen by over 5 million people, whilst many tens of thousands of others will view the material via the web and in schools the world over – thereby increasing understanding of this key issue.

The educational exhibition is mainly aimed at younger audiences and showcases inventions and technology that was developed by multi-faith scientists all working in Muslim Civilization during the period 800 to 1600AD.  It links modern, everyday items that we take for granted today to inventions made over a thousand years ago.  

The Edge was commissioned to produce the central, 12-minute, mini-feature film seen by visitors as they enter the exhibition, as well a number of shorter films for interactive kiosks in the main exhibition area, where visitors have the opportunity to experience a meeting with eminent Muslim scientists and inventors from this past era. 

Our main drama film is set in the present day with a group of children visiting a library to research a school project. They are led to believe that nothing much happened in ‘The Dark Ages’, until the librarian, played by Sir Ben Kingsley, transforms into Al-Jazari, a master engineer from the 12th century. He then proceeds to take the children on a magical journey of discovery.  The film will be a central part of the exhibition as it tours major cultural venues around the world.