Download - Islamic history arch 1
What is Islam?
• Monotheis0c religion, based on Abraham (in the lineage of Judeo-‐Chris0an religions). Believers follow the Qur’an – believed to be the verba0m word of God (Allah) – and the teachings of Muhammad (c. 570 AD – June 8, 632 AD), considered to be the last prophet of God. The example of Muhammad’s life, including his words, deeds, habits and prac0ces, make up “sunnah”, and is emulated by Muslims.
Five pillars of Islam • Faith – no God but Allah • Prayer – Muslims pray 5 0mes/day: direct link between
worshipper and God. • Alms-‐giving – caring for the needy; possessions are purified by
giving away some. • Fas0ng – during month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn
to sundown, to cut oneself off from worldly comforts and thus purify the spirit.
• Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca – once in a life0me obliga0on for those able to do it. Pilgrims pray at the Haram Mosque in Mecca in which the Kaaba (Abraham’s temple) is located.
Mecca
Cliff notes: History of Islam (leaving out lots of stuff)
• Muhammad (ca. 570 – 632 AD) received his first revela0on from Angel Gabriel around 610 AD. Forced to leave Mecca in 622 – date marking the beginning of Islamic calendar.
• In 630 AD he took Mecca with 10,000 followers, but died in 632 AD. Most of Arabian peninsula had converted to Islam by then and it spread rapidly through Central and East Asia, Central Europe and North Africa.
• Succession was contested: Abu Bakr al-‐Siddeeq – trusted friend; Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-‐in-‐law. Abu served as the first Caliph; Ali the 4th, but ul0mately divisions in Islam arose: Sunnis and Shias.
More about Islam
• Sunni (word comes from “Sunnah”) represent between 75 – 90% of Muslims worldwide; emphasizes primacy of Islamic law – so anyone can be a caliph. Shia (“party of Ali”) believe only descendants of Ali can be leaders. Shia make up about 10% of the Islamic popula0on worldwide; they can be discriminated against as they are a minority. Shia have a separate set of hadith, or wrijen quotes of Muhammad. There are many different groups within Islam, as there are denomina0ons of Chris0ans.
• Most asce0c/spiritual group may be the Sufi, of the Melevi order, found in Central Asia. hjps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Cf-‐ZxDfZA
• Islam was historically renowned for being the religion of tolerance, allowing all religions to prac0ce freely within its territories (remember Palmyra?)
• Major empires include: Umayyad (661 – 750 AD)Abbasid (750 – 1258 AD), Mongol (Shia)/Timurid (Sunni) Empires (1215 – 1227; 1370 – 1507); Mamluks (1250 – 1517), Mughals (1526 – 1858) and Ojoman (1534 -‐ 1914). These cultures produced some of the most beau0ful art ever seen.
Islamic Architecture
Dome of the Rock: 687 – 691 AD • Oldest extant Islamic building: • Shape of Byzan0ne martyrium; excellent example of Byzan0ne arts.
• Exterior 0les added in 1500s • Spot from which Muhammad ascended to Heaven for one night in 621 AD
Great Mosque of Aleppo,Syria (also called Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo)
• Ca. 706 AD, rebuilt 1090 • First mosque w/Islam-‐specific design, based on Muhammad’s own house (and first mosque) Minbar (pulpit) and Mihrab (prayer niche facing Mecca)
• Umayyad caliphate instrumental in crea0on of indigenous, unique manifesta0ons of Islamic art.
Ablu0on fountains
Unique Minaret design: elements of Gothic Architecture and local forms
2013 Syrian Civil War
Great mosque of Samarra, Iraq 847 AD Abbasid dynasty; Sunni mosque
Super awesome minaret!!
Mamluk Period Complex of Qa’itbay, Cairo, 1472 -‐ 74
Mongol Empire (Central Asia) • Ini0ally, Mongols brought devasta0on; later,
remarkable cultural influences from China during Ilkhanid Period (1256 – 1353).
Iran, Ilkhanid period , 1206 -‐ 1353
Tomb of Uljaytu, 1307-‐13
Timurid Dynasty (ca. 1370 – 1507) Central Asia, Iran, Iraq, Russia, India
Gur-‐I Amir, Samarkand (Uzbekistan) “The Great Prince” Mausoleum, 1404
Mughal Dynasty, India,Afghanistan, 1526 -‐ 1858
Architecture a synthesis of Timurid opulence and detail, mixed with indigenous Hindu and Muslim Indian extravagance.
Taj Mahal 1631 -‐ 1653
Ojoman Empire CA. 1300 – 1914 AD
“Blue Mosque” Sultanahmet Mosque, Istanbul, 1609 -‐ 1616
Basic forms of ornamenta0on in Islamic Art:
Basic forms of ornamenta0on in Islamic Art: • Geometry
Basic forms of ornamenta0on in Islamic Art: • Geometry • Calligraphy
Basic forms of ornamenta0on in Islamic Art:
• Geometry • Calligraphy • Vegetal (Arabesque)
Homework: watch this documentary and write a page about 5 important things you learned.
• hjps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okYc6qE9nms
• Paradise Found: