Talk: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe

This fully illustrated talk will highlight the Arab and Islamic influences in some of Europe’s most recognisable landmarks, from Notre-Dame and St Paul’s Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament. Ideas and styles from vibrant centres like Damascus, Baghdad and Cairo will be traced, brought in by Medieval Crusaders, pilgrims and merchants.

About the Speaker

Diana Darke is an author and Middle East cultural expert with degrees in Arabic and in Islamic Art & Architecture. She has spent over 35 years specialising in the region, working for both government and commercial sectors. Among her publications are the highly acclaimed My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Crisis (2016), and The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy (2022). Her book Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture shaped Europe (2020), received three Book of the Year awards. She is a Non-resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute, Washington’s independent think-tank and her work has been published by the BBC, The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Financial Times.