Faithful reproductions, maps, panels, photographs, interactive elements... visitors can get to grips with the original nature of science in al-Andalus, its influence and its legacy as the source of learning for Europe and the whole world.
Much of this know-how stands as a shining testimony to scientific cooperation among various communities, societies and religions, all influenced by the same goal: the desire for knowledge, and the application of this knowledge for the benefit of humanity. One key feature of Arab science had always been its capacity to integrate Hellenic, Syrian, Sanskrit and Persian learning, among others. But the Arab scientists not only fused and transmitted the science of the ancients, but also developed it further.
The creation of al-Andalus saw the arrival of scientific knowledge from the Orient, and it was from here that it spread to the rest of Europe. Al-Andalus was thus at the forefront of mediaeval science and thinking, and classical learning was reintroduced into the West through translations from the Arabic.
Scientists such as the surgeon al-Zahrawi, better known as Abulcasis, from Cordoba, the astronomer Azarquiel, from Toledo, the geographer Ceuta al-Idrissi and the agronomist Ibn Luyyun, from Almeria, were just some of the leading figures of al-Andalusian science.



A stroll around the exhibition
The ground floor provides visitors with an introduction to al-Andalus and its various historical stages, and to Islam and science, the gallery being dominated by a model of Nasrid Granada in the 15th century.
The module ‘Exact Sciences’ takes visitors inside the world of al-Andalus, remarkable for its geometry, mathematics and astronomy. We owe the introduction to the West of decimal numbering to al-Andalusian efforts to propagate these sciences. Astronomy was also extensively developed, as it was needed for a variety of everyday purposes.
The section ‘Medicine, Pharmacology and Botany’ illustrates the medical research and advances made in such disciplines as ophthalmology. At that time, the field of medicine was not compartmentalised, and doctors, in addition to being physicians, would also generally act as something akin to today’s pharmacologists and botanists.

The module ‘Water and Agriculture’ focuses on the development of various hydraulic systems in the al-Andalusian era, such as the wells, norias, qanats, acequias and aljibes which made possible the introduction of new crops hitherto unknown in the West, such as sugar cane, cotton, Asian rice, citrus fruits, bananas, date palms and various vegetables. Meanwhile, the module ‘Geography: Navigation and Cartography’ covers the expanse of Muslim territories and their contributions to the development of sailing.
All the contents on the first floor are structured around the ‘Pillar of Wisdom’, which demonstrates how the culture of al-Andalus was the most advanced in the Western world. Its various technical achievements are arranged around this central pillar: metalworking, the introduction of paper, textiles, military technology, ceramics, glassware and music. The gallery is rounded off through the use of various interactive elements.
In the module ‘Hydraulic Technology’, visitors can see how water was controlled in an al-Andalusian reservoir, fed using a hydraulic invention dreamt up by al-Yazari. The next module is dedicated to the ‘Astrolabe’, one of the great inventions of al-Andalusian astronomy, and here visitors can learn how to use this curious instrument.
The third module offers visitors the chance to discover what lies behind the mosaics of the Alhambra, admiring their remarkable geometric forms using a kaleidoscope.
Finally we come to the module on the ‘Aromas of al-Andalus’, which invites us to use our senses to identify various aromatic plants and study their different medical, pharmacological and aesthetic applications.

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