Description

Book Synopsis
Against a backdrop of Islamophobia, Europeans are increasingly airbrushing from history their cultural debt to the Muslim world. But this legacy lives on in some of Europe's most recognisable buildings, from Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament.This beautifully illustrated book reveals the Arab and Islamic roots of Europe's architectural heritage. Diana Darke traces ideas and styles from vibrant Middle Eastern centres like Damascus, Baghdad and Cairo, via Muslim Spain, Venice and Sicily into Europe. She describes how medieval crusaders, pilgrims and merchants encountered Arab Muslim culture on their way to the Holy Land; and explores more recent artistic interaction between Ottoman and Western cultures, including Sir Christopher Wren's inspirations in the Saracen' style of Gothic architecture.Recovering this long yet overlooked history of architectural borrowing', Stealing from the Saracens is a rich tale of cultural exchange, shedding new light on Europe's greatest landmar

Stealing from the Saracens

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    A Paperback by Diana Darke

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      Book details

      Publisher C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
      Published 1 September 2024
      ISBN-13 9781911723479
      978-1911723479
      ISBN-10 1911723472
      Also in:
      Art & Photography History of architecture

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Against a backdrop of Islamophobia, Europeans are increasingly airbrushing from history their cultural debt to the Muslim world. But this legacy lives on in some of Europe's most recognisable buildings, from Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament.This beautifully illustrated book reveals the Arab and Islamic roots of Europe's architectural heritage. Diana Darke traces ideas and styles from vibrant Middle Eastern centres like Damascus, Baghdad and Cairo, via Muslim Spain, Venice and Sicily into Europe. She describes how medieval crusaders, pilgrims and merchants encountered Arab Muslim culture on their way to the Holy Land; and explores more recent artistic interaction between Ottoman and Western cultures, including Sir Christopher Wren's inspirations in the Saracen' style of Gothic architecture.Recovering this long yet overlooked history of architectural borrowing', Stealing from the Saracens is a rich tale of cultural exchange, shedding new light on Europe's greatest landmar

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