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The Middle East Before Islam

Arab society was mostly Bedouins organized into clans.
Arab tribes were a mixture of local polytheistic beliefs with some Christian and Jewish awareness.
Economy was based on nomadic pastoralism and limited trade.
Conflict with Byzantines and Persians was common.

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Muhammed and the First Caliphs

Muhammed united the region with Islam around 600 CE.
The first Caliphs helped expand Islam in the region. Conversion was quick because of successful warfare and frustration with Byzantine and Persian rule.
Sunni-Shia split over who should be the Caliph – Blood relative of Muhammed or any believer?

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Islamic Caliphates

Umayyad: 661 – 750 CE

VERY fast expansion through Africa and into Spain.
Stopped at the Battle of Tours (France) in 732
Controlled trade between Europe and Asia
Semi-Constant warfare with Byzantine Empire
Known for Art, Architecture, and Scholarship

Abbasid: 750 – 1258 CE

Baghdad was made the new capital, it became a center for art, literature, and learning.
Government actively supported education and science.
Central location in Afro Eurasia benefited trade and the accumulation of wealth.
Development of algebra and use of Indian numerals.
Fusion of Greek and Islamic philosophy
Retention of learning in the European “Dark Ages.”

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Policy towards non-Muslims

Favoritism of Arab military rulers caused discontent
Attempts to stop assimilation of populations
Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims
tax (jizya) on non-Muslims

Conversion did little to help social mobility or tax burden

Otherwise, legal toleration of the “People of the Book.”

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Islamic Art & Architecture

LOCAL CULTURES HAD THEIR OWN IMPACT ON ART & ARCHITECTURE AS ISLAM SPREAD, BUT SOME ELEMENTS OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE ARE TRACEABLE NO MATTER HOW MUCH LOCAL INFLUENCE IS INJECTED.

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Horseshoe Arch

Origin unknown
Some say Umayyad, others say Visigoth (Spain), and still others say Byzantine or Sassanid

Compare to this Roman Arch

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Pointed Arch

First used by Byzantines it will become the characteristic arch of Islamic Architecture
Later it becomes a center of Gothic Medieval Architecture

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Scalloped Arch

Variation on the Horseshoe Arch
Symbolic of wealth, skill, and propserity that created it.

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Arabesque

Means repeating geometrical patterns
Major feature of Islamic Architecture due to fact that they do not depict living things in their art.

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Calligraphy

Quotations from Qur’an
Emphasizes Islam and the unification of their empire due to fact all had to learn Arabic to become Muslim or pay Jizya.

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Hypostyle

Greek word meaning “under columns
Not specific to Islam but used extensively in a mosque’s prayer hall which had to be a large room

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Minaret

Used to call Muslims to prayer
Word originates from the term for “an object that gives light”
First mosques did not have minarets.
Can vary drastically depending on local cultural influences

Oldest Standing Minaret

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Large Courtyards

The actual meeting place in the first mosque Muhammad built had a courtyard which is where the people gathered to pray.
Mosques are multipurpose buildings and serve religious, political and cultural roles. Courtyard= Town Square
Symbolically separates the outside world from the prayer hall (mentally prepare)

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Large Domes

Again, not a unique feature of Muslim architecture as the Greeks and Romans perfected the dome
The Dome of the Rock (right) is one of the holiest sites of Islam and was patterned off of nearby Byzantine churches and Byzantine workers help to build it.
Sometimes the domes are pointed at the top.

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Mihrab

Is a niche built into the wall of the Mosque which is usually accompanied by a pulpit
The Mihrab indicates the direction of the Kaaba (الكعبة) in Mecca which is the direction Muslims face when they pray.

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Other Elements

Bright Colors
Symmetric Design
Ablution Fountains
Focus put into interiors rather than exteriors “beauty of the veil”

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