The presence of Islam in medieval and early modern England is richer than many might assume. From trade with South Asia to diplomacy with the Ottoman Empire and cultural productions in London, England was never isolated from the wider Islamic worlds. These encounters shaped politics, literature, and ideas, leaving traces still visible in our understanding of history today.
At the British Library, Dr Lubaaba Al-Azami, Dr Shazia Jagot, and Dr Münire Zeyneb Maksudoğlu join historian Rebecca Rideal to explore how new research is reshaping our view of England’s relationship with Islam.
At Cambridge Muslim College we are always glad to see initiatives that broaden perspectives on Islamic history and highlight the depth of these long-standing connections.