'Islam and Tibet: Cultural Interactions' conference to be held at the Warburg Institute, London from 16 to 18 November 2006. (360G-Wellcome-081349_Z_06_Z)

Islam and Tibet: Cultural Interactions Historical connections between the Islamic world and Tibet have received little attention in modern scholarship. The study of the relations between these two spheres requires expertise in a great variety of fields, geographies, histories, and cultures. Furthermore, perceptions of the Islamic world and Tibet as isolated entities have persisted until today due to a Eurocentric world view which perceives other cultures almost exclusively in their relation to Europe and European history. The research project "Islam and Tibet; cultural interactions (8th -17th centuries)" which has been hosted at the Warburg Institute since February 2005, aims at redefining cross-cultural relations within Central Asia. The interdisciplinary character of the project is indispensable for a complex analysis of the various contacts between the Islamic world and Tibet. The conference aims at bringing together a great variety of scholars who are experts in the various fields involved in these complex relations between the Islamic world and Tibet. It is the first academic event to deal with these historical relations and serves as an initial stage for establishing an international network of scholars. The topics which are covered in the conference reflect the complexity of connections between the two spheres. Some participants will present aspects of the historical background of contacts between the Islamic world and Tibet. Other speakers will address questions of mutual perceptions and knowledge of the other culture, in particular in the areas of geography, cartography, ethnography and religion. Other participants will focus on the history of medicine (both theories and ideas and pharmaceutics) and science. Still others will present specific groups that acted as intermediaries such as travellers and traders and holy men who integrated different religious traditions. Attention will also be paid to mutual influences in the fields of literature and art.