Islamic Art and Architecture

The Spread of Islam

Kabba, Mecca, date unknown.

Dome of the Rock (aerial view), Jerusalem, 691CE.

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 691CE. (source, left; source, right)

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 691CE.

Dome of the Rock (interior of dome), Jerusalem, 691CE. (source)

Left: Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c. 530CE. (source)Right: Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 691CE. (source)

Great Mosque of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain, 785CE. (source)

Great Mosque of Córdoba, interior view of hypostyle prayer hall, Córdoba, Spain, 785CE. (source)

Folio from the Qur’an Manuscript, 9th century CE, inkand gold on parchment, approx. 9” x 12”. (source)

Folio from the Qur’an Manuscript, detail, 9th century CE, inkand gold on parchment, approx. 9” x 12”. (source)

Tile Mosaic Mihrab, from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, 1354CE, mosaic of polychrome-glazed cut tiles, approx. 126” x 114”. (source)

Tile Mosaic Mihrab, from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, 1354CE, mosaic of polychrome-glazed cut tiles, approx. 126” x 114”. (source)

Left: Tile Mosaic Mihrab, from the Madrasa Imami. (source)Right: Folio from the Qur’an Manuscript. (source)

Kamal al-Din Bihzad, The Caliph Harun Al-Rashid Visits the Turkish Bath,

c. 1494CE, ink and pigments on paper, approx. 7” x 6”.

Kamal al-Din Bihzad, The Caliph Harun Al-Rashid Visits the Turkish Bath,

c. 1494CE, ink and pigments on paper, approx. 7” x 6”.

Sinan, Mosque of Sultan Selim, Edirne, Turkey, 1568–75CE.

Sinan, Mosque of Sultan Selim, plan and interior of dome,Edirne, Turkey, 1568–75CE.

Left: Sinan, Mosque of Sultan Selim, Edirne, Turkey, 1568–75CE.Right: Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Church of Hagia

Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey, 532–7CE. (source)

The Ardabil Carpet, 1539–40CE, silk warps and wefts with wool pile, approx. 35' x 18'. (source)

The Ardabil Carpet, details, 1539–40CE, silk warps and wefts with wool pile,

approx. 35' x 18'. (source, left; source, right)

The Ardabil Carpet, 1539–40CE, silk warps and wefts with wool pile, approx. 35' x 18'. Display in Victoria & Albert Museum, London. (

source)

Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1632–47CE. (source)

Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1632–47CE. (source)

Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1632–47CE. (source, left; source, right)Details of exterior calligraphic engraving.

Great Mosque of Djenné, Djenné, Mali, 13th century CE (rebuilt 1907). (source)

Great Mosque of Djenné, Djenné, Mali, 13th century CE (rebuilt 1907). (source)

Left: Great Mosque of Djenné, Djenné, Mali, 13th century CE (rebuilt 1907).

Right: Sinan, Mosque of Sultan Selim, Edirne, Turkey, 1568–75CE.