Art History, Chapter 9; Islamic Art

silk road

An ancient network of trade routes connecting the East and West which for centuries was central to cultural interaction between them. The Silk Road refers to both the terrestrial and the maritime routes connecting Asia with the Middle East and southern Europe.

Muhammad

Born in Mecca(570). Had revelations of God through Gabriel. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet and God's messenger, sent to present and confirm the monotheistic teachings. He is viewed as the final prophet of God in all the main branches of Islam.

What Islam borrowed from pre-existing cultures?

Borrowed from the Ottomans, Safavid(Iran), Mughal's(India).

"Horseshoe arch"

also called the Moorish arch and the keyhole arch, is the emblematic arch of Moorish architecture. Horseshoe arches can take rounded, pointed or lobed form.

Qibla

is the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays. It is fixed as the direction of the Kaaba in the city of Mecca. Most mosques contain a wall niche that indicates the Qiblah, which is known as a miḥrâb.

Islam

the religion of the Muslims, a monotheistic faith regarded as revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah. Muhammad as the last prophet. They acknowledge Christ, but only say he is one of many prophets.

Qur'an

Central text of Islam, a collection of Muhhamad's oral revelations. Includes 114 chapters(suras)

Mosque of Cordoba

Date: 16th century Culture: Islamic Significance: Currently a catholic church, but it use to be a muslim place of worship. Horseshoe arches, comes in a little at the base making it seem less clostrophobic. Elaborate geometry, since there are no icons.

The Dome of the Rock

Date: 680 C.E. Culture: Islamic Significance: Islamic shrine in on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. A great example of Greek and Christian art. The third holiest site in Islam. The rock inside is where Muhammad had a mirage and Ishmaiel was almost sacraficed. The oldest artifact with passages from the Qu'ran on it.

Alhambra

Date: 889 A.D. Culture: Islamic Significance: A palace and fortress complex located in Spain. The Court of the Lions is an oblong courtyard. In the centre of the court is the Fountain of the Lions, an alabaster basin supported by the figures of twelve lions in white marble, not designed with sculptural accuracy but as symbols of strength, power, and sovereignty. Each hour one lion would produce water from its mouth

Page with kufic script

Date: 8th or 9th century Culture: Islamic Significance: Is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts. Often used for decoration since making icons is not allowed.

How Islamic art flourished despite prohibitions of figurative depictions of the natural world?

Islamic art is not a monolithic style or movement; it spans 1,300 years of history and has incredible geographic diversity—Islamic empires and dynasties controlled territory from Spain to western China at various points in history.

Hypostyle mosque

Mosque: is "place of postration" Modeled after Muhhamad's house(messenger's house). Friday prayers occur here. No place for music or procession. Hypostyle (supported by columns) hall.

saz

One type of spiralling scrollwork is set with enormous composite flowers, smaller rosettes and long, serrated 'saz' leaves. This is often called the 'saz' style. The leaves are the most distinctively Ottoman element, but the Ottomans themselves associated them with China.

Geometric arabesque

Straplike lines that intertwine, creating network of polygons. In strictest form of all figurative imagery is banned, lots of exceptions. Are often built on combinations of repeated squares and circles, which may be overlapped and interlaced, as can arabesques (with which they are often combined), to form intricate and complex patterns.

Minaret

a tall slender tower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer(5 times a day).

Granada

is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.

Oriental Carpets

piece of fabric, sometimes a pile carpet, used by Muslims, placed between the ground and the worshipper for cleanliness during the various positions of Islamic prayer.