Dr. Elizabeth Drayson, Emerita Fellow in Spanish, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge.
Western civilization is frequently described as having purely Judeo-Christian roots, but this narrative completely ignores the profound impact of Islamic culture on the European continent. Dr. Elizabeth Drayson, an Emerita Fellow in Spanish at the University of Cambridge, illuminates the vibrant history of Al-Andalus. A specialist in medieval Iberian cultural history, Dr. Drayson demonstrates how centuries of Islamic rule, scholarship, architecture, and scientific innovation fundamentally shaped the intellectual and cultural landscape of Europe. This lecture reframes European identity, revealing a shared, interconnected past that continues to influence our world today.