The Islamic Legacy in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Scientific Coordinators: Elizabeth Drayson and Borja Franco
Venue and Date: Online meeting previously planned at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge (United Kingdom) – October, 2020
Meeting call:
The legacy of a medieval and/or early modern Islamic presence in both European and Mediterranean countries extends beyond 1750 and continues to manifest itself in life today. One particularly striking example is the powerful influence in current Spanish politics of ideas invoking the medieval heritage of Spain, including concepts of conquest and reconquest, often specifically in relation to the fall of Granada in 1492. Another example lies in the restoration of Ottoman heritage in the urban space of Istanbul that began after the pro-Islamic AKP party came to power in 2002. The aim of this conference is to bring together scholars who would be interested in comparing aspects of life in European and Mediterranean countries today that demonstrate how Islamic and Christian interactions and influences in Medieval and Early-Modern Europe are still noticeable in contemporary cultural, political, historical and religious life.
The approach will be multidisciplinary and will address a variety of themes from different perspectives, relating to a number of key questions:
– What forms do contemporary references take? (i.e. literature, art, politics,
architecture, film and so on)
– What are the origins of these references?
– What are contemporary reactions to these references?
– What are the cultural implications and importance of these references?