JEDDAH: The “1001 Inventions” exhibition has welcomed more than 200,000 visitors in its first month in Turkey.
Inaugurated by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month, the exhibition is organized by Abdul Lateef Jameel Community Initiatives and the Foundation of Science, Technology and Science.
Visitors from different nationalities, cultures and age categories lined up to enjoy the event, which explores Muslim scientific heritage and examines the role of Islamic world in the history of science, technology and arts.
Visited by an average of 6,000 visitors a day, 1001 Inventions takes visitors on a tour of replicas of astonishing inventions from the Middle Ages.
The exhibition discusses the huge impact of the Muslim civilization on today’s life. Visitors start their tour with a documentary called “1001 Inventions and Library of Secrets.”
Displayed on a seven-meter high screen, the 13-minute documentary features a group of children on a journey in which they discover the period that was referred to in Europe as the Dark Ages.
Starring in the documentary is Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley, who plays the role of 18th century engineer Al-Jazari.
In the feature, the children discover a wealth of knowledge about Muslim inventions in the period from the 7th century onward. The documentary has won several international awards and has been translated into Turkish.
The exhibition also features interactive displays, electronic games and 3-D attractions.
Fadi Mohammed Jameel, president of ALJ Community Initiatives, said the exhibition’s success has exceeded expectations.
He expressed appreciation to the Turkish government for its support and cooperation.
Jameel announced that the exhibition is seeking to introduce Turkish society and visitors to Istanbul to the importance of scientific inventions during a period that lasted 1,000 years and mistakenly referred to as the Dark Ages by Europeans, even though it was an era of innovation in the Islamic world.
Jameel stated that he expects the exhibition to inspire future generations to come up with their own scientific inventions.
ALJ Community Initiatives operates in countries, including Turkey, where the Abdul Latif Jameel Company maintains a business presence. – arabnews
