Islamic World

2. Islamic World

3. Islamic Era - Chronology • 570 CE – Birth of Muhammed, founder of Islam • 610 CE – Muhammed’s vision that creates Islam (Archangel Gabriel comes to him) • 622 CE – Muhammed leaves Mecca for Medina and begins gaining converts – this event is known as the Hegira (Hajj) • 630 CE – Muhammed and followers return to Mecca and overtake the city – the Kabah is set up as major Islamic shrine • 632 CE – Death of Muhammed, his father-in-law Abu – Bakhr takes over and creates the title caliph; begins the creation of an empire of Islam by conquering neighboring lands. At Abu-Bakhr’s death Umar takes over as caliph. Muslims divide into many subgroups.

4. Islamic Era - Chronology • 718 CE – Spain is under Muslim control • 734 CE – Battle of Poitiers – Muslim spread is stopped by Charles Martel of France • 762 – 766 CE – The Abbasid Dynasty takes over from Umayyads (except in Spain) and move capital from Damascus to Baghdad • 788 – 879 CE – Several countries break free from caliphate and set up individual kingdoms and dynasties • 879 CE – Seljuk Turks begin conquest of Mesopotamia and Persia • 900 CE – Fatimids take over in Egypt and conquer all of North Africa

5. Islamic Era - Chronology • 945 CE – Abbasid power falls to the Shiites • 969 – 1171 CE – Fatimid Dynasty recreates a smaller version of the Caliphate in Egypt • 1037 – 1194 CE – Seljuk Turk Dynasty • 1077 CE – Seljuk Turks conquer most of Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon • 1099 CE – Crusades begun against Muslims in the Holy Land by Pope Urban • 1187 CE – Saladin ends Western control of Holy Land (Outremer) after Battle of Hattin

6. Islamic Era - Chronology • 1248 CE – Muslims lose control of most of Spain except area around Granada • 1251 CE – Malmuk Dynasty takes over caliphate in Egypt • 1258 CE – Abbasid Dynasty is completely wiped out by Mongol invasion • 1327 CE – Seljuk Empire collapses; Arab world splits into several kingdoms • 1453 CE – Ottoman Empire defeats the Byzantine Empire; move capital to Istanbul (Constantinople) • 1492 CE – Muslims completely expelled from Spain

7. 5 Pillars of Faith – (Sunni) • 1) Shahadah – profession of faith – “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger” • 2) Salah – ritual prayer done 5x a day at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening • 3) Zakat – giving to the poor – everyone must give something depending on what they earn • 4) Sawm – fasting during month of Ramadan – refraining from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk each day of the month – also supposed to get along with others better and get closer to Allah during this time (there are exceptions for health, etc.) • 5) Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca – every able bodied Muslim must make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime – must walk around the Kaaba 7 times, touch the stone and symbolically throw rocks at the devil • In Shiite Islam there are the additional pillars of Jihad (personal struggle against Islam’s enemies) and Khum (giving a tithe to the Imam)

8. Islamic Terms • Islam – submission to Allah (god) • Muslim – one who submits to the will of Allah • Hajj/Hegira – pilgrimage to Mecca • Imam – religious leader • Quran (Koran) – Muslim Holy Book • Sura – chapter in the Quran • Qiyama – Day of Judgment • Jannah - heaven

9. Islamic Art Characteristics • Geometric Patterns • No icons, rare animals • Heavy use of plasterwork • Quotations from Koran used as art – calligraphy • Plain interiors • Water is used as a way to show off wealth

10. Islamic Art • Dome of the Rock • 680 - 692 CE • Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine • Architecture • Earliest major Islamic building • Jerusalem is 3rd holiest city to Muslims

11. Islamic Art • Interior of Dome of the Rock • 690 CE • Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine • Architecture • Interior is heavily decorated for an Islamic building • The rock in the center marks the alleged place where Abraham was going to sacrifice his first born son; it is also the alleged place where Muhammed was taken by Gabriel on a mi’raj(spiritual journey) to visit heaven and hell

12. Islamic Art – Dome of the Rock

13. Grand Mosque of Damascus (Ummayad Mosque) 706-715 CE Damascus, Syria Architecture Includes a shrine inside which claims the head of John The Baptist Also has the tomb of Saladin And the head of Husayn, the grandson of Mohammed

14. Islamic Art • Cordoba Mosque • 786 • Cordoba, Spain • Architecture • Artist: Begun by Abd-al Rahman • Umayyad Dynasty in Spain’s influence is seen here • Interior is considered a masterpiece of Islamic architecture

15. Islamic Art • Interior of La Mezquita (Great Mosque of Cordoba) • 8th – 10th C. CE • Archtecture • Cordoba, Spain • Typical Arab style hypostyle hall • Horseshoe arcades decorate interior making this one of the most beautiful mosques in the world

16. Dome in front of the mihrabof the Great Mosque

17. Islamic Art • Mosque of Sulayman II • 1550 – 1557 CE • Istanbul, Turkey • Architecture • Artist: Sinan • This is an enormous Ottoman imperial mosque – to compete with Christian churches in the area • Has courtyard with central fountain

18. Islamic Art • Interior Mosque of Sulayman • 1550- 1557 • Architecture • Istanbul, Turkey • Artist: Sinan • Vast open space created by domes • Limited decoration as Islamic law prohibits idols and idolatry

19. Islamic Art • Interior Mosque of Sulayman II • 1550 – 1557 CE • Istanbul, Turkey • Architecture • Sinan • The dome is supported by 8 piers • It is over 197 ft high • The structural components are the focus rather than being hidden

20. Malwiya minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra ca. 848-852 Samarra, Iraq When rediscovered by Western archaeologists they believed it to be the Tower of Babel in error This is only the minaret - prayer tower next to mosque

21. Malwiya minaret and Great Mosque

22. Islamic Art • Court of the Lions • 14th century CE • Granada, Spain • Architecture/Sculpture • Located on the grounds of the Alhambra • The Nasrid Dynasty built this to show wealth with the use of excessive water

23. Muqarnas Dome 1354-1391 Granada, Spain Inside the Hall of the Two Sisters in the Alahambra Palace Made of plaster – another use of excess water to show wealth

24. Mausoleum of the Samanids early 10th century Bukhara, Uzbekistan Architecture Despite Islamic prohibitions about extravagant burials – the Samanid rulers built great monuments to death

25. Madrasa/Mosque/Mausoleum complex of Sultan Hasan 1356-1363 CE Cairo, Egypt Madrasa – Islamic school Considered the best multiple complex in Islam

26. Qibla wall, main iwan 1356-1363 Cairo, Egypt Architecture Inside the Madrasa-mosque-mausoleum complex of Sultan Hasan Qibla wall helps point faithful in right direction for prayer in any mosque

27. Islamic Art • Shah-namah book page • 1562 – 1583 • Persia (Iran) • Illuminated Manuscript • Book was written by Firdawsi • It is a work of 60,000 couplets

28. Courtyard of the Great Mosque (The Friday Mosque) 11th century CE Isfahan, Iran Architecture From early Seljuk period in Persia 4 gate style mosque opens in all directions

29. Dome of the Friday Mosque 1611-1638 Isfahan, Iran Architecture Artist: Nizam Al-Mulk Glazed tile roof adds bright colors to mosque

30. Islamic Art • Kaaba • Traditional dating c. 2000 BCE, rebuilt 620-630 CE • Mecca, Saudi Arabia • Architecture • Holiest spot in the world to Muslims • Black stone inside is said to have fallen from heaven

31. Kaaba

32. Islamic Art • Al Masjid Al Nabawi • 7th-13th centuries CE • Medina, Saudi Arabia • Architecture • Tomb of Mohammed can be found under the green dome • AKA – Dome of the Prophet • Originally his house

33. Eastern façade of Friday Mosque Djenne, Mali Architecture 13th century, rebuilt 1906-07 – mud brick Also found in our Africa power point

34. Islamic Art

35. Islamic Art

36. Islamic Art • The end . . . • Next lecture . . .