New edition of this hugely popular book

Who first discovered the nature of light? When was the oldest-surviving map showing America drawn? How did people a thousand years ago make breakthroughs in treating disease?The 1001 Inventions book, in its third edition, was published by National Geographic in 2012 with an updated design and lots of lovely extras. This book accompanies the 1001 Inventions exhibition which continues to tour the world.

During the development of the new book, I worked closely with the chief editor, Professor Salim al-Hassani, on a full update and edit of the original text. I contributed new features to each chapter, showcasing developments made during Muslim civilisation in the realms of medicine, engineering, chemistry, exploration and astronomy. Each feature is illustrated with the incredibly rich manuscripts, treatises and maps of the period.

Another new addition is a revised and enlarged timeline which now runs over ten pages, with illustrations and captions that show the many interflowings of knowledge between East and West over the centuries. The timeline runs from the 7th century when Islam was established, through to the 18th century, when the Moroccan ambassador to London was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, reflecting new research by Professor al-Hassani and his academic colleagues in the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation.

The 1001 Inventions project reveals the contribution of men and women living in Muslim civilisation to the development of the way we live today. Through this new book, the exhibitions and films, the team aims to show how people of many faiths worked together in an often-forgotten golden age of discovery and enlightenment. It’s a quest of endless fascination, and one that itself makes a great contribution to the interconnected world in which we are living.

UPDATE: a fourth edition of the book is now available in text form from www.1001inventions.com/ReferenceBook