How can you convey the essence of 3000 years of history and change in the Middle East in just 30 minutes? Professor Paul Starkey is a renowned writer, lecturer and translator of Middle Eastern studies at Durham University and together with his wife Dr Janet Starkey, managed to do just that. We travelled, as if in a time capsule, to see the growth and decline of empires from Persepolis to the Romans, the Byzantines to the Ottomans and the impact of this turbulent history on the current political unrest of the region. It was a fascinating and insightful introduction. With just a tantalising look at the religion, art, literature and botany of the Middle East we quickly realised that there is so much more to explore.
If you are interested in learning more and would like to join a new U3A group on the subject please let us know your area of interest (culture, art, language, travel, cuisine….) by emailing us at dunsu3a@gmail.com.
Join our next monthly meeting on Tuesday 8th January 2019, when Derek Janes will be speaking on ‘Tea Smuggling and the growth of Tea Consumption in Scotland’. Come between 10 and 10:30 for coffee before the lecture begins.
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