ISLAMIC-ARCHITECTURE

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ISLAM

• Moslem Faith Flourishment: Primarily in Southern Asia and Northern Africa.

• Countries governed by Islamic rulers:

  • Africa North of Sahara (7th century onwards):

    • Morocco

    • Algeria

    • Tunisia

    • Libya

    • Egypt

  • Sahara and Eastern Africa (9th century onwards):

    • Spanish Sahara

    • Mauretania

    • Mali

    • Northern Nigeria

    • Niger

    • Chad

    • Sudan

    • Somalia

• Asia and Asia Minor (7th century onwards):

  • Saudi Arabia and States of Arabian Peninsula

  • Syria

  • Israel

  • Jordan

  • Lebanon

  • Iraq

  • Iran

• Notable Expansion Areas:

  • Afghanistan (9th century onwards)

  • South Russia (7th to 9th century)

  • Mongolia (partially, 11th century onwards)

  • Philippines and Indonesia (14th century onwards)

• Spread of Islam: Often linked with military conquests, racial movements, and displacements of other populations.

GEOLOGICAL FACTORS

• Rich Building Tradition: Countries where Islam expanded had established traditions.

• Natural Resource Exploitation: Techniques for resource extraction in building and trade were long established.

• Building Techniques:

  • Brick making and earth walling common in alluvial plains.

  • Strong skills in stone selection and working in stone-bearing areas.

• Diversity of Building Stones: Varied throughout the Islamic realm.

• Building Material Knowledge: Techniques based on local materials allowed for advanced construction.

• Ceramic Production: Long-standing tradition, along with gypsum plaster and glass manufacture, integral to Islamic architecture.

CLIMATIC INFLUENCES

• Fertility through Irrigation: Much of the historically Islamic territory relies on irrigation rather than rainfall.

• Climatic Conditions:

  • Most areas within a continental climate leading to temperature extremes and modest rainfall.

  • Sunshine influenced architectural styles, leading to wide eaves and shaded arcades.

• Architectural Responses:

  • Structures built with heavy walls and high rooms to retain coolness.

  • Commonly included unprotected circulation areas.

SOCIAL STRUCTURES

• Tribal Foundations: Arab groups utilized tribal structures as the basis of their social organization.

• Cultural Influence of Desert Traditions: Behavioral and cultural patterns were shaped by desert life.

• Role of Women:

  • Primarily confined to domestic and agricultural roles; significant public life roles denied.

  • Private sphere embodied in the Harem and protected in public under veils.

• Governance:

  • Despotic rulers common, supported by laws based on the Prophet’s teachings and interpreted by religious leaders.

RELIGIOUS ESSENCE OF ISLAM

• Fundamental Belief: "There is only one God and Mohammed is his prophet."

• Codification of Thought:

  • Koran: Direct revelation through Mohammed.

  • Hadith: Collection of the Prophet’s sayings.

  • Islamic Law: Derived from the Prophet’s teachings, traditions, and examples.

• Leadership: Successors to the Prophet are referred to as "Caliphs."

• Sectarian Divisions: Islamic community divided primarily into Sunni (Turkey and Africa) and Shia (Persia and Iraq).

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Diversity of Islamic Architecture:

  • Resulted from rapid conquests and a mixture of traditions.

  • Influenced by Hellenistic and Sassanian architecture.

• Axis Orientation:

  • Principal axis, "Kibla" related to symmetrical concepts of "perfect creation."

  • Secondary axes often incorporated into landscape design.

• Common Architectural Elements:

  • Use of arcades, domes, large portals (often with a niche called "Iwan").

  • Dominant buildings: mosques, tombs, and residential structures.

• Design Philosophy:

  • Internal focus confined to contemplation and prayer rather than external grandeur.