12th & 13th of November, Abu Dhabi, UAE

AND ITS IMPACT IN EUROPE

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Hosted by the

Emirates College of TechnologyAbu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates

12th & 13th of November 2014

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WEPREPAREFOR FUTURECAREERS

Emirates College of Technology

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In addition to offering Diploma programs in a wide array of specialty, ECT is

proud to offer the esteemed Double Major Diploma in Business

Administration and Computer Information Systems, the first and the only

one of its kind in UAE that prepares students to take up the challenges of

both the Business and Information Technology fields. ECT prepares

students to encompass knowledge that will help them to meet the

challenges of changing advancements in the local and international

markets.

Located at the heart of the rapidly

evolving Abu Dhabi city, the

Emirates College of Technology was

established in 1993 following

recognition by the UAE Ministry of

Education. Established to keep up

with the technical and business

developments of contemporary life,

today, Emirates College of

Technology has established itself as

one of the oldest and most

prestigious institutions in the region.

Arab Civilization and its Impact in EuropeConference

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GUESTS& THEIR ACADEMICTOPICS

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Emirates College of TechnologyKaspar Klavins

Kaspar Klavins - Emirates College of Technology

The Role of Arab Intellectual Heritage in Breaking the Stereotypes of European “O�cial” Science (English)

The ancient Arab science studied the human being as an indivisible whole,

while the Western science has taken him to pieces in order to study each

piece separately and, as a result, this view of the world has created

fundamental problems. In Europe the knowledge of medicine and biology

necessary for humans did not gain support on the part of the official

holders of power and the church for hundreds of years. Since the very

beginning they were forced underground as “secret”, “magic” or “heretical”.

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The Emirates Palace is a �ve star luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Built as a landmark showcasing Arabian culture, Emirates Palace, has created a niche in luxury hospitality.

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

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Universitat de LleidaFlocel Sabaté

Flocel Sabaté - Universitat de Lleida

Border between Two Civilizations in Iberian Peninsula 9th-12th Century (English)

After the Muslims captured Al Andalus, territorially, it still controlled most of

the Iberian Peninsula. Therefore, already, by the second half of the 8th

century a broad buffer zone, a kind of no man's land, existed along the

Duero river valley, subject to raids from both Christians and Moors

(Muslims). One can significantly see the difference in ethnicity, culture and

religion; components that make up a whole civilization.

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Antoni Riera - Universitat de Barcelona

Universitat de BarcelonaAntoni Riera

The Islamic Heritage of Food in the Iberian Peninsula (French)

L’heritage alimentaire islamique dans la Peninsule Iberique: une question controversée

As different areas embraced Islam, the Arabs encountered a whole range

of fruits and vegetables previously unknown to them. The transplantation

of a diversity of crops and fruit-bearing trees to different climates became

the challenge that motivated the Islamic Agricultural Revolution. Thus,

culinary art did not develop in a random manner. On the contrary, it was an

art in its own right, based on thorough medical research and dieticians'

advice. Ingredients were selected, composed into dishes and subsequently

diffused to the public at large. Thus, for the first time, within the Islamic

civilization, nutrition had developed into a therapy, promoting the health

of the citizens according to their environment and the season of the year.

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Universitat de BarcelonaTheo Loinaz

Theo Loinaz - Universitat de Barcelona

The Cultural Legacy of Ancient al-Andalus: Medicine and Drug Lore in the Islamicate West (Arabic)ا�ثار الباقية عن حضارة ا�ندلس اخلالية: الطّب والصيدلة � أقصى الغرب ا�سالمي

Through the diverse crops and fruits that resulted from the Islamic

Agricultural Revolution, culinary art was not the only aspect that got

affected. Through the precision in understanding crops and vegetation,

health became directly associated with Islam. In the 13th century, the

books of Muslim physicians and the compilations of recipes attracted the

attention of both rulers and the Church in the West. Interest increased

when Ferrara, Salerno, Montpellier and Paris became centers for studying

Muslim medical works.

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Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The mosque was constructed from 1996 to 2007. It is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world.

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Luciano Gallinari - Instituto di Storia dell’Europa Mediterranea

Instituto di Storia dell’EuropaMediterranea

Luciano Gallinari

The Mediterranean Islands between Byzantines and Muslims in the High Middle Ages Spain (English)

By the death of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), the conquest of the first four

caliphs was perceeded by the Umayyad Dynasty. They were able to reach

Spain (al-Andalus) to the west and China to the east. They controlled the

majority of the territory that was controlled by the Byzantines. At the

decline of the Muslim Empire at the hands of the Mongols, the Ottoman

Turks who have adopted the Islamic religion during the 9th and 10th

century were able to defeat the Mongols seizing almost all of Asia Minor

along with Syria and Mesopotamia, taking control of Constantinople

(Istanbul) in 1453.

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Karen Stöber - Universitat de Lleida

Universitat de LleidaKaren Stöber

Fear of the other: The Rise of Intolerance in the 11th

century Church (English)

It is about the origins of the stereotypical perception of other religions and

traditions. In Europe this way of thinking during Middle Ages can be seen

in evaluations concerning Arabs (and Islam): propaganda,

misinterpretation, and demonization (such perceptions were generated

also by militant priests).

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Hasan Mustafa - Emirates College of Technology

Statistics of Muslim Population Growth in Europe and Opportunities for Tolerant Coexistence Based on Shared Values (English)

One of the big challenges that Europe faces is how to deal with the Muslim

immigrant populations that have grown to significant proportions within

its borders over the last decades. The very important issue of relations

between Muslim immigrants and their European host populations,

however, has only recently begun to attract widespread attention in the

politics and society.

Emirates College of TechnologyHasan Mustafa

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Dubai Desert

The deserts of Dubai are recognized as one of the wonders of the country. There, one can delve in the numerous adventures the desert o�ers. The most prominent is the fantastic safari trip, camel ridding and the tents that welcome you in, colored with nights of traditional music and enjoyment.

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Universidade Nova de LisboaRosa Varela Gomes

Rosa Varela Gomes - Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Islamic Heritage in Portugal (English)From the 8th century up to the 12th century, the territory of what is now

Portugal was controlled by the Muslims, and known as “Al-Gharb

Al-Andalus” (West of al-Andalus). This presence has left a significant mark

on the cultural and traditional aspects of Portugal. This presence can be

notably explained through Islamic Art. One shouldn’t also forget that many

of the words in the Portuguese language has been borrowed from the

Arabic Language. The country’s folk music Fado can trace its ancestry back

to Arab music as well as nearly a thousand modern Portuguese words

including azeitona (olives) and garrafa (bottle). Even Portugal’s colonial

achievements wouldn’t have happened without the Moors for it was the

arrival of the Astrolabe and the Lateen sail that made possible the

Portuguese “Age of Discovery.”

Universitat de LlediaJesús Brufal

Jesús Brufal - Universitat de Lledia

The Muslim Legacy in Using Natural and Territorial Resources in Europe (English)

With the profound natural and territorial resources in Europe, the Muslim

Empire grew to a different level. They were faced with plants, fruits and

vegetables that they have never seen before. The diversity in natural and

territorial recourses has increased the benefits of science, medicine and

technology in the Muslim Empire. Considerable resources were also

devoted for the support of scientific activity in Muslim societies. Until the

rise of modern science, no other civilization engaged as many scientists,

produced as many scientific books, or provided as varied and sustained

support for scientific activity.

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Universitat de LleidaJulián Acebrón

Julián Acebrón - Universitat de Lleida

The Arab In�uence over Medieval European Literature 15th-16th century (English)

Many authors in Europe were in one way or another influenced by Arabs. It

was through the Arabs that the fantasies of Greek and Roman philosophy

found their ways to Europe. It was Averroes and Avicenna that played

a colossal change in secular thought across Western Europe. Dante’s

“Divine Comedy” is extremely similar to “Kitab Al Miraj” by Ibn Arabi, noting

that Dante was actually influenced both directly and indirectly by Islamic

Eschatology.

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This splendid place consists of four �oors. Though comparatively small in features, this place is indeed an important historical spot in Abu Dhabi as contains histories and architectural designs that describes the Al Ain City and the whole UAE. Furthermore, this is the place where the Al Ain National Museum resides. The museum consists of various collections such as gifts received by the President, coin and gold pendants.

Al Jahili Fort

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Universitat de LleidaIsabel Grifoll

Isabel Grifoll - Universitat de Lleida

Contribution of the Islamic Culture to Latin and Roman Medieval Literary Traditions

From the 11th to 13th centuries, medieval Europe absorbed knowledge

from Islamic civilization, which was then at its cultural peak. Of particular

importance was the rediscovery of the ancient classic texts, most notably

the work of the Greek natural philosopher Aristotle, through retranslations

from Arabic. Latin translations of these texts originated in multiple places.

Spain and Sicily became the main points of transmission of Islamic

knowledge to Europe. The Islamic world made important advances

in science, such as in algebra, chemistry, geology, spherical trigonometry

and much more, which were later also transmitted to the West.

Universitat Rovira i VirgiliFrancesc Massip

Francesc Massip - Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Islamic Traces in Medieval European Theater (French)Traces Islamiques dans la théâtralité européen médievale

Whilst theatre is permitted by Islam, it does not allow for any performances

to depict Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, his companions, the angels or

matters detailed in the religion that are unseen. Most prominent styles of

theater were puppetry, which included hand puppets, shadow plays and

marionette productions, and the “ta’aziya”, in which actors re-enact

episodes in Muslim History. However, secular plays were recorded

in medieval “adab” literature though they were less common than the

ta’aziya recordings.

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Universitat de LlediaMàrius Bernadó

Màrius Bernadó - Universitat de Lledia

Al-Andalus: Exploring a Musical Landscape in Medieval and Early Modern Islamic Spain (English)

One of the world’s most influential musical cultures flourished from the 8th

to the 15th century in the southern Iberian realm known as al-Andalus by

the Arabs who lived and ruled there. Only traces of that original music

remain today, in poems, written histories, illustrations and oral traditions

handed down through generations, yet Andalusian music and its many

descendants still inspire performers and audiences around the world.

Arabs have always perceived the music of al-Andalus a pinnacle of Arab

culture. It gave rise to poetry and song forms that influenced the European

troubadours, whose music in turn became part of the Renaissance, and is

still heard today.

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Excavation work began for Burj Khalifa in January 2004 and over the ensuing years to its completion, the building passed many important milestones on its goal to become the tallest man-made structure the world has ever seen. In just 1,325 days since excavation work started in January, 2004, Burj Khalifa became the tallest free-standing structure in the world.

Burj Khalifa

For more information contact us0528420592 (Dr. Kaspar Klavins)

0507306360 (Mr. Tareq Ayoub)

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Abu Dhabia pioneer

in arab civilization