The Sassanids and the Islamic World (Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates) and Architectural Production

Divine Investiture of Ardashir I Sasanian Iran, 3rd century C.E

Divine Investiture of King Khosrow (Khusrau) II, late 6th c. to early 7th c. CE

Bowl with wheel-cut facets, Sasanian, ca. 6th–7th century CE, Iran

Sassanian Glassware

successor in Arabic

Caliphs

1

Qibla wall

7

Forecourt

4

Hypostyle hall

2

Mihrab - recessed niche on qibla wall

8

Minaret- earlier mosques did not have this, where call to prayer happens

Plan of the Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisia, 9th c. CE

Great Mosque at Kufa mid-7th century CE, earlier mosque…more square

The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 7th c. CE

Umayyad

Great Mosque of Damascus, Syria, 8th c. CE

New capital for the Umayyads

Mosiac from Great Mosque of Damascus, Syria, 8th c. CE

Sasanian Dynasty 3 things

1. 3rd c. - mid 7th c. CE

2. Seized control of Iran from Parthians, defeated by muhammad’s armies, and succeeded by Caliphs (umayyad then

3. Primary religion Zoroastrianism

Ummayad Caliphate 4 things

1. succeeds Muhammads take over

2. mid 7th c. - mid 8th c. CE

3. deafted by Abbasids, calliph continues

4. Spread and development of Islam

Abbasid Caliphate

1. mid 8th c. - mid 13th c. CE

2. Claimed descent from uncle of Muhammad

3. More open to converts, promising equality between Arabs and non-Arabs

4. moved captital to Baghdad near old Sassanian capital

high chair or pulpit for preacher

Minbar

royal enclosure – a sort of private area within the sacred space with aim of sheltering political authorities.

Maqsura