Chapter 5

The Islamic World

Islamic WorldDates and Places: • 7th century to present• Middle East, Spain,

North AfricaPeople:• Muslim followers of

Prophet Muhammad• Rapid expansion of

empireDome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 687–692. Fig. 5-

2.

Islamic WorldDates and Places: • 7th century to present• Middle East, Spain,

North AfricaPeople:• Muslim followers of

Prophet Muhammad• Rapid expansion of

empire

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 687–692. Fig. 5-2.

Islamic WorldThemes:• Restrictions on holy images • Geometric pattern, vegetal

design, calligraphic passages from Koran

Forms:• Non-illusionistic • Repetition of design• Rich colors, materials

Malwiya minaret, Great Mosque, Samarra, 848–852. Fig. 5-5.

Architecture

View and plan, Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisia, ca. 836–875. Fig. 5-4.

ArchitectureExample: • Mosque for collective

prayer • Muhammad’s house as

model• Hypostyle hall, qibla

wall, mihrab, minaret• Maqsura for ruler• Plain exterior, lavish

interior View and plan, Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisia,

ca. 836–875. Fig. 5-4.

Architecture

Prayer hall, Great Mosque, Córdoba, Spain, 8th to 10th centuries. Fig. 5-6.

ArchitectureExample: • Hypostyle hall • Double-tiered arches

add height• Columns from earlier

structure• Horseshoe arch, maybe

Visigoth or Near Eastern• Lavish mosaics and

stuccoPrayer hall, Great Mosque, Córdoba, Spain,

8th to 10th centuries. Fig. 5-6.

Architecture

Court of the Lions, Alhambra, 1354–1391. Fig.

5-8.

ArchitectureExample: • Palace of the caliph in

Spain • Image of Paradise• Multilobed pointed

arches, ornamental stucco decoration

• Ornament of calligraphy and patterns

Court of the Lions, Alhambra, 1354–1391. Fig. 5-8.

Architecture

View, Great Mosque, Isfahan, Iran, 11th to 17th centuries. Fig. 5-6.

ArchitectureExample: • Iranian mosque type • Courtyard with two-

story arcade• Four iwans (vaulted

recess in wall)• Qibla iwan is largest• Dome before the

mihrab View, Great Mosque, Isfahan, Iran, 11th to 17th centuries. Fig. 5-6.

Luxury Arts

Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami, ca. 1354. Fig. 5-11.

Luxury ArtsExample: • Mosaic tile

ornamentation • Repeating vegetal

motifs• Calligraphy from Koran• Abstract patterns• Lacks figural

representation of holy figures

Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami, ca. 1354. Fig. 5-11.

Luxury Arts

Koran page, 9th or early 10th century. Fig. 5-12.

Luxury ArtsExample: • Principle text of Islam • Kufic script• Integration of text and

ornament• Lacks figural

representation Koran page, 9th or early 10th century. Fig. 5-12.

Luxury Arts

MAQSUD OF KASHAN, carpet, funerary mosque of Shaykh Safi al-Din, 1540. Fig. 5-14.

Luxury ArtsExample: • Rug in funerary mosque• Rugs replace wood furniture,

create functional multi-purpose rooms

• Wool carpet by master designer • Heavenly dome design with

water and lotus blossoms • Lanterns in design

MAQSUD OF KASHAN, carpet, funerary mosque of Shaykh Safi al-Din, 1540. Fig. 5-14.