Crossroads of the Medieval Mediterranean Islam and Christianity

This collection of scholarly essays examines the medieval Mediterranean as a shared aesthetic space where Islamic and Christian cultures intersected through material art. The researchers explore how religious boundaries were blurred by the trade and adaptation of luxurious objects, such as Mamluk ceramics, Andalusi textiles, and precious balsam oil. Through various microhistorical case studies, the text highlights the practice of architectural spolia, where elements like Byzantine marble slabs or Christian capitals were integrated into Islamic monuments to convey power or prestige. Other contributors analyse Christian tiraz textiles from Egypt, demonstrating how liturgical Coptic inscriptions adopted Islamic courtly forms to express a unique minority identity. Ultimately, the volume argues that the universality of beauty functioned as a bridge for interreligious encounter, allowing refined craftsmanship to transcend strict theological divides.