Islam

Tile-work:

array of bright colors and delicate patterns. Often displayed on the walls or ceilings of mosques (think Dome of the Rock or the Blue Mosque)

ogee arch:

the super pointy and curvy arch, looks like an onion (Moorish architecture - Spain)

Sulieyman the Magnificent:

the tenth and longest-reigning Great Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566.

Mecca & the Kaaba:

First holiest place for Muslims. Mecca is the city to which Muslims make their pilgrimage (hajj). The Kaaba is the big building that everyone prays around once they get to Mecca.

- What are the ties to the West? In which ways is Islamic art and architecture unique and in which ways is it influenced by other cultures in the Mediterranean world?

-They are located in the center of the world so they traded frequently. Their style adopts and incorporates the local style of building. -Parts of the Islamic tradition tie to Christian tradition - the site of the Dome of the Rock is supposedly where Adam was created and the site of the near sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham. Islam joined the holiness of other religious sites and superseded it by building their own church there.

Vienna:

Austria....Ottoman siege of Vienna. Holy Roman Empire kept back the Ottoman Empire. Important moment in history because if the Ottomans had won, their cultural influence might have permeated through the Western world.

- Why is a knowledge of Islamic art and architecture important in today's world?

Because it's one of the few styles that is still in use today. The Islamic world and style is still used in creating buildings. It's still very much a present power in the world today - a good way to gain understanding of their current culture. We perceive the Islamic world differently when we understand that we all share an appreciation for beauty. A lot of people perceive the Islamic as volatile or scary, but a deeper understanding of the culture, the piety of the people, and the beautiful art allows us to see that it's not the religion that's scary, just the extremists groups who don't represent the religion.

Mosque Element: Mihrab

Center of the qibla, the focal point of prayers (lots of tile work or excessive patterning)

luxury goods:

Ceramics and metalwork

Shah Jahan:

Emperor of Mughul Empire who's buried at the Taj Mahal with his wife

Mosque Element: Maqsura

Enclosed anterior to the mihrab for the ruler and other dignitaries

- Why is design, patterning, geometric ornamentation important in architecture, tile work, carpets, painting etc

For the same reason as calligraphy It is considered blasphemous to rival the creative powers of God so they never create even images of human beings. They stick to patterns instead Closeness to God is achieved through the purity of pattern and symmetry Lots of attention to detail and color (compared to other styles)

- Know the importance and diversity of the luxury item in Islamic culture.

Islamic Textiles (carpets and fabrics) became luxury items across the globe. The Islamic peoples also traded in metals, glass, spices... traded with other parts of the world. Islamic world considered silks, incense, spices as luxury goods. Part of the silk road. Poorer people enjoyed pottery. All I know is that they were skilled in ceramics and metalwork and they use those as luxury items while trading. Also there is diversity because of their central location and frequent trade with everyone around them probably. This to me is kind of like art for art's sake - people would have items just because it looked pretty and it showed the status of the owner.

Mosque Element: Hypostyle hall

Large room with columns

Who is Mohammad and how do his teachings (i.e. the Qur'an) affect the art of Islam?

Mohammad was the Prophet of Islam who wrote down the words of Allah, ie the koran. Muslims are commanded not to worship any graven images (BLASPHEMOUS TO ATTEMPT TO RIVAL CREATIVE POWERS OF GOD), therefore they do not have any images, aside from organic and geometric designs, and the art of calligraphy. All three illustrations appear consistently throughout Islamic art.

Why is Calligraphy important?

Muslims are commanded not to worship any graven images so calligraphy is a big thing for them in their art. It is how they make things beautiful since they cannot depict animals or humans, plus their written language lends itself to a more artistic rendition. The beauty of the written word. -Arabic itself is holy to the Muslims because it is the language of the Qur'an, the word of God. -The difficulty of learning and mastering the language, and then mastering calligraphy made it an art form.

Know the importance of place and pilgrimage (like the Hajj) in Islam.

Pilgrimage to the Hajj is one of the 5 pillars that Islam is founded upon. Ideally, every member of Islam undertakes the pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in their lifetime. The kaaba is the large black building that in ancient times housed the votives to the gods of it's polytheistic caretakers. It now is a monotheistic shrine holy to Islam. Each mosque has a mihrab that faces east towards Mecca - direction is very important

Mosque Element: Minbar

Pulpit/throne for prayer leader

Know the differences between Secular and Religious art in Islam.

Secular Art: Was able to depict people and animals Religious Art: Emphasized patterning and calligraphy

Jerusalem:

Third holiest place. The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic sacred shrine in Jerusalem, built on the Temple Mount. This is where Mohammed ascended into heaven and was given the second pillar of Islam, to pray five times a day, from Allah, which is still used today.

Mosque Element: Minarets

Towers to call down from to announce prayer time

Mosque Elements: Qibla

Wall that faces mecca (face this wall when saying prayers)

Textiles:

a type of cloth or woven fabric

the Alhambra:

a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain.

Medina:

city in western Saudi Arabia. In the city center, the vast Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) is a major Islamic pilgrimage site. Its striking Green Dome rises above the tombs of the Prophet Muhammad and early Islamic leaders Abu Bakr and Umar. The Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque) is known as the site where the Prophet Muhammad received the command to change the direction of prayer to Mecca. The second holiest place for Muslims. Muhammad is buried here.

horseshoe arch:

double layering arch, like in the Great Mosque of Cordoba (keyhole arch)

Mughul Empire:

empire that mostly conquered India. Taj Mahal built during this empire.

Calligraphy:

fancy script, a way of writing that makes text/words into art. They believe that the word of God should be created to depict the value they take in the actual words. Beauty reflects the importance of the words.

Persian Rugs & Royal Factories:

prayer rugs made in workshops- they were expensive and luxurious because they were used for praying in both mosques and in homes; royal factories were established to utilize the finest textiles for rugs