Islamic Art & Architecture (Chapter 13)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT: Rise of Islam: 622 (year 1 of Islamic calendar)  Mecca becomes the religious center of Islam, Muhammad is their prophet

 Founder of Islam is prophet Muhammad, began preaching in 613  Muhammad exclaimed that there is only one God (Allah) and he is the chosen messenger to the people  Indigenous Arabs were generally polytheistic  Expanded into North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Spain, India and Central Asia by 7th century  After Mongol sack of Baghdad in 1258, Islamic world was split in 2: East vs. West

TIMELINE

Muhammad Born in Mecca 570

Muhammad’s First Revelation 610 Five Pillars of Islam

Muhammad’s Flight to Medina 622 Faith There is no God but God; Muhammad is his messenger Muhammad Dies in Medina 632 Prayer Salat–obligatory prayers said five times daily

KEY IDEAS Charity Giving alms to the poor

 Most important building for Muslim worship is Fasting During month of Ramadan the Mosque. Important Great Mosques in Pilgrimage Hajj–trip to Mecca once in a o Damascus, Syria lifetime, some go yearly during o Kairoaun, Tunisia Ramadan o Samarra, Iraq

o Cordoba, Spain  Muslims pray toward city of Mecca, the holiest

site in Islam (identified by a niche in the wall called a mihrab)  The mihrab is a niche in the qibla wall

 Artworks include calligraphy and textiles adorned with arabesque and tessellating Islamic art and patterns (NO figures or animals depicted in architecture utilizes sacred art and architecture) ornate interlacing  Calligraphy is most prized art form patterns called arabesque (interlacing vegetal VOCABULARY: Islam - Mosque – Muhammad – Qur’an (Koran) – Dome of the Rock motifs) and tessellations – 5 Pillars – hypostyle prayer hall – mihrab- imam - minbar - qibla – minaret - (intricate geometric arabesque – tessellation – squinch patterns)