The Book of Travels
Introduction
The Book of Travels is a collaboration between the British Council to highlight the constant influence and sharing of ideas that has occurred between individuals and societies. Our exhibition used the 17th Ottoman traveller, Evliya Celebi and his travelogue, The Book of Travels, to explore the interactions between Europe and different parts of the Islamic world.
The Need
Negative coverage of contemporary Muslims as well as the history of Islam has created a skewed narrative around these communities which lacks little resemblance to historical fact.
What We Did
We created an online and physical exhibition – www.thebookoftravels.org – which explored the exchange of ideas and knowledge between the Ottomans and Europeans through medicine, trade, storytelling, architecture and music.
The exhibition has travelled to 5 countries and 25 cities, with over 22,000 people visiting the exhibition.