Studies cross-cultural exchanges across the Mediterranean using new interdisciplinary methodologies

An edited volume that provides architectural, literary, historical and visual analyses
A strong focus on interpreting archives
A work of comparative cultural studies
Each chapter opens an original and critical perspective, the book coalescing into a wealth of new ways of thinking about the history of the Islamic world
Represents new developments in theories of empire
Discusses cases from medieval Spain, Ottoman Empire, colonial North Africa, and France and Algeria based on primary sources

This volume of original essays invites 10 preeminent scholars to think through a rich corpus on cities, empires, images and archaeological sites produced by the distinguished architectural historian Zeynep elik. Awarded the prestigious 2019 Giorgio Della Vida medal for excellence in Islamic studies by the University of California, the occasion allowed researchers from various universities, countries and disciplines to reflect on her rich body of work. Inspired by elik's works, chapters travel between Muslim and Christian Spain, the Ottoman Empire and France, Europe and its overseas empire in North Africa, and more.

Combining social, cultural and urban history as well as visual studies and collective political memory, scholars from Turkey, France, Algeria and the US chart detailed studies of Muslim-Christian art, Ottoman music, art and literature, and cross-Mediterranean sites of containment such as the prison, the asylum and the nuclear site.