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Zara and Zirrar talk to author and Arabist Diana Darke about her most recent book Stealing From The Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe. Diana explains how cultural exchanges between Europe and Islamic Syria shaped Gothic architecture, and why this has become a point of controversy in Europe today.
What we talk about in this episode
- Diana’s 17th century home in Damascus
- Meaning of the word “Saracens” – and the double irony of the book’s title
- The Syrian and Islamic architectural traits that were utilised in European Gothic architecture
- Architecture of the Umayyads in Syria and Spain
- The routes / gateways through which architectural styles reached Europe
- The ‘fusion’ styles of Europe
- How Islamic styles were received by Christian Europe
- Misidentification of the Dome of the Rock as a Christian building by Crusaders
- Willingness to use the skills of craftsmen of other religions in the Medieval Period
- How the fire at Notre Dame influence the writing of the book
- The appropriation of these architectural traits as exclusively European
- Architect Christopher Wren’s acknowledgment of the influence of “Saracens” in Gothic architecture.
- The influence of Islamic styles on St Paul’s Cathedral
- Parallels between Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and Christopher Wren, who was influenced by the former
- Contrasting layouts and use of space in mosques and cathedrals
- Controversy surrounding the title of the book and general reception of the book
- Why some people attempt to deny any cultural influence on Europe by the Islamic world
- The interwoven nature of cultures and the multi-layered influences on architecture
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 landmarks. A New Statesman Book of the Year 2020, chosen by William Dalrymple. A BBC History Magazine Best Book of 2020.
Diana Darke is an author, Middle East cultural writer, Arabist and occasional BBC broadcaster. She graduated from Wadham College, Oxford, in 1977, where she studied German and Philosophy/Arabic, then went on to work for the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and Racal Electronics Plc as an Arabic consultant. In 2005, Darke purchased a 17th-century courtyard house in the Old City of Damascus. She is the author of a number of books including My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Crisis; The Merchant of Syria: A History of Survival and Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture shaped Europe.
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