About this Event
On 28 November 2024, at 7 PM, Yunus Emre Institute London, in collaboration with Hurst Publishers, will host a special event featuring renowned Middle East cultural expert and author Diana Darke for the launch of her latest book, Islamesque: The Forgotten Craftsmen Who Built Europe’s Medieval Monuments. With over four decades of expertise in the Middle East and the author of acclaimed works such as Stealing from the Saracens and The Ottomans, Darke’s new book brings a fresh perspective to the role of Muslim craftsmen in shaping Europe’s most iconic Romanesque monuments.
Moderating the evening will be Shahed Saleem, an award-winning architect and author of The British Mosque: An Architectural and Social History, who is well-known for his exploration of Muslim architectural heritage in the UK. Saleem will guide the conversation as Darke uncovers the fascinating history behind Europe’s medieval architectural wonders and the Muslim master builders responsible for their creation.
In Islamesque, Diana Darke explores the fascinating and often overlooked contributions of Muslim master builders who played a pivotal role in shaping Europe’s architectural heritage. While clergymen have long been credited for presiding over Europe’s medieval architectural wonders, the highly skilled craftsmen who designed and built these masterpieces have remained largely anonymous. Darke’s research uncovers the evidence embedded in structures like Mont Saint-Michel, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Durham Cathedral, and the Basilica of Santiago de Compostela, revealing the profound influence of Islamic geometry and craftsmanship on Europe’s pre-Gothic, Romanesque monuments.
Through meticulous analysis, Islamesque challenges Eurocentric assumptions about the origins of Europe’s medieval architectural styles and highlights the deep-rooted connections between the Islamic world and ‘Christian’ Europe. Darke argues that Romanesque architecture, often regarded as a European innovation, is in fact deeply influenced by Islamic design and construction techniques, and should be recognized for what it truly is: Islamesque.
Join us for this enlightening conversation between Diana Darke and Shahed Saleem, where they will explore the intersection of history, architecture, and the shared cultural heritage between the Islamic world and medieval Europe. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase Islamesque at a special event discount, with Diana Darke available to sign copies after the talk.
‘Magnificently lively, detailed and bold, a real revolution in how we think about the development of medieval art and architecture. But it also does a fine and timely job of unsettling all kinds of assumptions about mutually impenetrable and isolated civilisations.’ — Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury
‘Once again, Diana Darke forces us to open our eyes and see the wealth of outside influences on Europe’s architecture. With an often-startling originality she brings to life the charm and elegance that Islam brought to soften the northern vigour of Romanesque and Gothic.’ — Simon Jenkins, Guardian columnist, and author of Cathedrals: Masterpieces of Architecture, Feats of Engineering, Icons of Faith
‘A thrilling detective story that begins with a zigzag and ends with a radical reappraisal of our religious past. Whenever you visit a church or cathedral, take this book; you will learn a new way to read religious buildings, and a new way to think about Islam’s place in Europe.’ — Edward Stourton, BBC Radio 4
'Learned but lively, Islamesque invites us to look again at medieval European architecture, demonstrating beyond doubt that the spirit, techniques and crafts of Islam inspired many of its most glorious expressions.’ — Tim Winter, Lecturer in Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge.‘
‘A guide to some of the most remarkable buildings in Europe, Islamesque persuasively argues that the innovative techniques and motifs of Romanesque architecture can only be explained by wealthy Christian patrons employing architects and craftsmen from formerly Muslim Spain and Sicily.’ — Julia Bray, Emerita Abdulaziz Saud AlBabtain Laudian Professor of Arabic, University of Oxford
‘It’s rare to read a historical account of architecture where bias is eliminated and prejudice overcome. Diana Darke does just that, writing out of love and respect for places and peoples. In times of severe division, she dedicatedly turns the compass towards the true essence of civilisations: human cooperation.’ — Marwa Al-Sabouni, architect, public speaker and author of Building for Hope and The Battle for Home
For more information on the event, please visit Yunus Emre Institute London’s Website: https://yeelondon.org.uk/ or email us at [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTES
Please note that this event is first come first served and may be overbooked. To avoid disappointment, please arrive early and secure your seat. If you have registered but are unable to attend, please cancel your ticket to allow others to join. Thank you for your cooperation.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Yunus Emre Institute London, 10 Maple Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
