Heritage
A selection of reports on the heritage projects we have supported and funded in the field of Islamic Art, Heritage and Culture since we were founded in 1987
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Saladin: Between Man and Myth – A new podcast with Abdul Rahman Azzam
Join Abdul Rahman Azzam for a discussion of espionage and honour, history and technology, as he explores the life and legacy of one of history's greatest leaders: Saladin. Listen now to learn where the man meets the myth, why he has endured so strongly in the popular consciousness, the extent to which he impacted the lives of those often thought unconnected to him, and how Abdul Rahman Azzam is using digital technology and machine [...]
Remembering Iradj Bagherzade, 1942-2023
We are greatly saddened by the passing of Iradj Bagherzade on 8th January 2023 in London. Born in Vienna, Iradj studied for a degree in law at Oxford University, though he never practised as a lawyer. Instead, his monumental and impactful career in publishing began with Time-Life. After years [...]
Congratulations New Grantee – Romolo Loreto
Congratulations to one of our 2022 grantees! We are thrilled to fund Romolo Loreto in his research. So what is the project? About the project: Since 2009 the Italian archaeological mission in Saudi Arabia has been carrying out archaeological research in Dumat al-Jandal. Since 2016 the study has focused [...]
Congratulations New Grantee – Konstantinos Politis
Congratulations to one of our 2022 grantees! We are thrilled to fund Konstantinos Politis in his research. So what is the project? About the project: The Barakat Trust is delighted to award a grant to Konstantinos Politics for his research into the Islamic heritage of Greece; specifically the Greek city [...]
Constantinopolis/Istanbul: Cultural Encounter, Imperial Vision, and the Construction of the Ottoman Capital
A symbolic locus embodying myriad meanings, the political center of the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the old world’s largest urban centers, Constantinople was the site of large-scale urban and architectural interventions. Changing visions—the changing political, cultural, and religious orientations of those who lived there and those who ruled from [...]
Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt
One of the world's most important collections of medieval Islamic embroideries is to be found in the Department of Eastern Art in Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum. The textiles were collected by the Egyptologist Percy Newberry between 1900 and 1930, while he was living in Cairo. Most of the embroideries were [...]
Osman Hamdi Bey and the Historiophile Mood
Orientalist Vision and the Romantic Sense of the Past in Late Ottoman Culture. Author : Ahmet Ersoy This publication in pdf can be downloaded here : https://www.academia.edu/11300463/Osman_Hamdi_Bey_and_the_Historiophile_Mood
Glossary of Arabic terms for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
Glossary of conservation terminology (Arabic-English and English-Arabic) developed by Dr Hossam Mahdy for the ATHAR programme and intended for conservation professionals working in the Arab region. This is a preliminary document distributed to invite discussion and comments. Author : Hossam Mahdy This publication in pdf can be downloaded here : [...]
Sultans and Mosques : The Early Muslim Architecture of Bangladesh
Before the Mughal style came to dominate the Islamic architecture of the Indian sub-continent, Bengal and its rulers had developed their own forms. The mosque architecture of the Independent Sultanate period (from the 14th to the 16th centuries) represents the most important element of the Islamic architecture of Bengal. This [...]
Living with Heritage in Cairo: Area Conservation in the Arab-Islamic City
The Arab-Islamic city has been always a glamorous urban dream in human cultural memory. This is manifested in Cairo, the world's largest medieval urban system where traditional lifestyles are still implemented. Nevertheless, despite the extensive efforts to preserve Historic Cairo, it is sadly vulnerable. Ahmed Sedky investigates the reasons behind [...]