Book 1: "Exploring and Discovering" delves into travel, exploration and
encounter in Muslim societies of the past. The book traces the movement of
people, and the accompanying exchange of goods, skills and ideas, between
Muslim lands and neighbouring regions. Readers also learn about the
encounter of different cultures and civilisations through forays into the lives
of famous explorers, trade routes, and travel sciences.
Book 2: "Cities and Civilisations" surveys the cultures of people living in the
Muslim world in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The cities of
Istanbul, Isfahan and Lahore are selected as key centres of creativity,
representing respectively the civilisations of the Ottomans, Safavids, and
Mughals. The book also highlights critical developments in other parts of
the world which affected the lives of people in these societies.
Book 3: "People and Places" is an exploration of the cultural diversity of six
regions of the world where there is a significant Muslim presence. Ranging
from Southeast Asia to North America and Europe, each region is presented
in terms of its countries, peoples, faiths and cultures. The book includes
examples of major issues faced by people living in these areas, which have a
bearing on their quality of life.
