Emerged during the medieval period alongside the Byzantine Empire, influencing Western art.
Uniquely influenced by Islam, differing from the Christian Byzantine art.
It is still practiced today, not just a historical movement.
Encompasses art made by Muslims and art from predominantly Muslim countries.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Born into a respected family in Mecca.
Orphaned at a young age, raised by his grandfather.
Known as "the trustworthy".
Meditated in a cave near Mecca where the angel Gabriel appeared to him during Ramadan.
Received revelations over 23 years, which became the Quran.
These revelations are considered the direct word of God, not written by Muhammad.
Taught monotheism, which angered polytheistic leaders who profited from idol worship.
Migrated to Medina with followers to establish an Islamic society.
Returned to Mecca peacefully, cleansed the Kaaba of idols, and by his death, most of Arabia had embraced Islam.
Islamic Empire
Formed in the 7th century after Muhammad's death, uniting Arabian Peninsula.
Led by caliphs (successors), expanding beyond Arabia, conquering Persia and Byzantine territories.
Umayyad dynasty extended the empire from Spain to India, with Damascus as its capital.
Arabic became the administrative language.
Abbasid dynasty overthrew the Umayyads, moved the capital to Baghdad, fostering artistic and scientific advancements.
Internal conflicts and corruption led to the empire's decline, symbolized by the Mongol destruction of Baghdad.
The empire's lasting influence includes Arabic language, Islam, and intellectual contributions.
Essential Tenets of Islam
Acceptance of and submission to God's will (Islam means "submission," Muslim means "one who submits").
Five Pillars of Islam (Obligations)
Faith: Declaration that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.
Prayer: Praying five times a day towards Mecca.
Almsgiving: Charity, typically around 2.5%.
Fasting: Fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan.
Pilgrimage: If able, making a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime.
Main Beliefs
Belief in one God, Allah.
Belief in angels, especially Gabriel.
Belief in holy books, the Quran being the most holy.
Belief in prophets, including Jesus (but not as the son of God).
Belief in the Day of Judgment and resurrection.
Characteristics of Islamic Art
Aniconism: Avoidance of figural representations of humans and animals.
Emphasis on geometric designs and patterns.
Calligraphy is important, using Arabic to write passages from the Quran.
Vegetal patterns inspired by nature.
Sacred Sites
Sacred Mosque (Mecca): Contains the Kaaba, believed to be built by Abraham and Ishmael.
Prophet's Mosque (Medina): Built by Muhammad (pbuh), contains his tomb.
Dome Of The Rock (Jerusalem): Important in Islam (Muhammad's night journey), Judaism (site of creation and Abraham's sacrifice), and Christianity. It contains the foundation stone. The structure is influenced by central plan churches and Byzantine mosaics, with Arabic calligraphy.
Mosques
Minarets: Prayer towers for calling people to prayer.
Prayer Hall: Hypostyle design with columns.
Qibla: Wall indicating the direction of Mecca.
Courtyard with a fountain for washing before prayer.
Mimbar: A pulpit.
Mihrab: A niche indicating the direction of Mecca.
Great Mosque of Damascus (Syria)
Hypostyle design with a rectangular prayer hall.
Mosaics with vegetal patterns and no figurative representation.
Mausoleum (Uzbekistan)
Perfectly proportioned cube with a hemispherical dome.
Represents the earthly square and heavenly dome.
Islamic Art in Spain
Islamic complexes in Spain due to the expansion of the Umayyad dynasty.
Great Mosque (Cordoba): Combines Spanish and Islamic styles, transformed into a cathedral after the Christian reconquest.
Prayer niche with mosaics and stucco.
Hypostyle prayer hall with repeating arches.
Palace (Spain)
Royal residence incorporating Spanish Renaissance architecture.
Muqarnas: Honeycomb-like architectural feature.
Court Of The Lions: A courtyard with a fountain with lion sculptures which is used for purification.
Quran Page
Early examples date back to the 9th-10th centuries.
Stylized Arabic calligraphy (Kufic) written with black ink on parchment.
Red dots indicate vowels.
No figurative pictures, only script.
Ceramics and Pottery
Decorated with geometric and vegetal designs.
Calligraphy used as a decorative element.
Used for serving food, incorporating religious instruction through Kufic passages.