As part of the exhibition "Key Aspects of Islamic Art" at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah, UAE, the second part titled "Literature of Travel" was opened. The purpose of this exhibition is to highlight the significance of the contributions of Islamic geographers, cartographers, and travelers of the golden age of Islamic civilization, as well as other periods, and to showcase their works that laid the foundations of geographic knowledge and enriched various cultures.
The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to explore manuscripts, books, and rare maps through which Muslim travelers documented different regions during their journeys across the world. The exhibition presents works from the collection of Professor Richard Ettinghausen, as well as other valuable items from the collection of Dr. Sultan al-Qasimi, the Sharjah Museum, and other institutions.
The acting director of the House of Wisdom, Marwa al-Akroubi, emphasized the importance of travel literature, as it is one of the historical sources that distinguished Muslims and Arabs, who contributed to the expansion of a rich archive that reflects the culture of peoples and the character of nations.
The exhibition includes four main sections, illuminating travel literature, geography, and cartography. The first section is dedicated to the works "Maps and Territories," one of the sections of Islamic geography, which flourished during the time of the Abbasids. The second section is dedicated to Idrisi and his map of the world, one of the most accurate cartographic works in history.
The third section presents instruments used for navigation, such as the astrolabe, quadrant, octant, and a single ballistics unit, all of which represent scientific achievements, combining precise engineering and high craftsmanship.
The fourth section discusses the role of travel literature and cartography in establishing connections between the past and present in the era of modern technologies, such as aerospace technology, geoinformation systems, and digital storytellers that have transformed the experience of travel. Exploration today encompasses not only physical travel but also digital travel, transcending boundaries and opening new worlds of knowledge and experiences.
