Not Just the Tudors When Europe met Islam
Oct 23, 2025
Dr. Elizabeth Drayson, an expert in Iberian history and cultural exchanges between Islam and Europe, dives into how the early modern period showcased a porous boundary between these civilizations. She discusses the profound influence of Islamic knowledge on Europe’s scientific revolution, including insights from Isaac Newton's library. Additionally, Drayson explores the cultural ramifications of events like the Morisco expulsion, the aesthetic fascination with Islam, and the shared identities that emerged from centuries of interaction.
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Europe Was Culturally Porous
- Europe between 1492 and 1700 was porous, with ideas, people and goods flowing between Christian and Islamic worlds.
- Islamic culture shaped European science, fashion, commerce and even royal tastes.
Promises Broken After Granada
- After 1492 Spanish guarantees to Muslims were revoked and mass forced conversions followed.
- By 1500 Islam was driven underground, producing a crypto-Muslim Morisco community.
The Lead Books Forgery
- In 1595 treasure-hunters found 22 lead books near Granada claiming Christian holy sayings.
- Miguel de Luna forged them to defend Morisco identity and the books fooled authorities for nearly a century.
