13.+Islamic+Art

 During the seventh century the forces of Islam burst across the Mediterranean world completely remaking the map. In the eighth century, the Islamic Empire held sway over North Africa and southern Spain. In the east, Muslim armies marched across the Indus River and held significant territory by 751. In 1492 Ferdinand and Isabella drove the Muslims from Spain. It wasn’t until 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, that Muslim pressure on the Byzantine East ended with victory. This swift and complete conquest of these territories was due not only to superior military strategies but to the great appeal the Islamic religion had on millions of converts. The contributions of Islam to the body of world knowledge are unparalleled. Arab scholars also laid the foundations for arithmetic and astronomy; they made significant contributions to the study of medicine. Their art also created an enduring body of elegant design and decorative elements.
 * ISLAMIC ART**
 * Summary: **

Read “Muhammad and Islam” page 359 for an understanding of the rise of the Islamic religion. Architecture. Know the structure and vocabulary associated with mosques. Be familiar with the plan of the Great Mosque of Karirouoan (13-8) and the Malwiya spiral minaret of the Great Mosque at Samara (13-9) and the interior of the Great Hall at Cordoba (13-11/12).
 * Key ideas:**

There is an Islamic tradition of not portraying the human body in art although at one point secular art did indeed represent the human body. Religious art employed decorative motifs and calligraphy to adorn mosques. Vines, scrolls, stars and arabesques representing the natural world and the world of heaven were used in mosques. These images were associated with the divine and were reminders that all things came from Allah.

Islam Muhammad Dome of the Rock Mosque mihrab quibla Madrasa Quran (Koran) tilework Mausoleum iman arabesque
 * Key vocabulary: **


 * Key images**:
 * __Artist Number Subject Key idea __**

Islam 13-2 Dome of the Rock - dominates horizon Islam 13-3 Interior of the Dome of the Rock - mosaics show image of Paradise Islam 13-8 Aerial view and plan of Great Mosque - know terms associated with Islam 13-9 Malwiya, Samarra - minaret Islam 13-11 Prayer hall, Geat Mosque, Cordoba - horseshoe shaped arches Islam 13-16 Koran page - calligraphy Islam 13-20/21 Sinan - central plan Islam 13-25 Mihrab from Madrasa Imami - union of calligraphy and ornament Islam 13-27 Sultan-Muhammad - narrative

Read about the Five Pillars of Wisdom and the role of calligraphy as an art form:  http://www.islamicart.com/index.html
 * Websites : **