Art & Architecture of the Middle East and North

Africa

REVIEW of the Middle East• Canaan/Israel/Palestine• The Hebrews/Israelites/Jews

– Judaism– Monotheism– Abraham – Jerusalem– Torah (Old Testament to Christians)– “Graven Image” concept

• Christianity– Jesus – Builds on Judaism but adds Jesus’

teachings, belief in Jesus as Messiah

• Romans– Expel Jews, destroy temple in 70 AD– Persecute Christians but convert in 300s

History of Islam• 7th Century AD

– Religion of Islam started by Muhammad, in what is now Saudi Arabia. “Muslims” are followers, “Islam” is the religion.

• 8th Century AD & on– Islamic empire spreads throughout the

Middle East, North Africa, Spain, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc.

• 1453– Ottoman Turks (Muslims) take over

Constantinople & the Byzantine Empire, renaming it Istanbul.

• 1492– Christians Ferdinand and Isabella defeat

and kick out all the Muslims in Spain.

Art• Strict rules about “graven

images” meant you could NOT make a picture of statue of God, a holy person, etc.

• Muhammad’s face is usually not shown.

• Books can show “historical images” but they are not for praying to.

• Some rules relaxed later in some places, like Iran (Persians).

• So, instead, Islamic art focused on REPETITION, using:– Geometric patterns– Arabesques– Calligraphy

Geometric patterns

Arabesques (curved designs)

Calligraphy:Fancy Writing

Islamic Architecture• Mosque: place of worship

Many mosques feature columns, domes and arches.

Islamic architecture often uses an “atrium” plan.

Minarets are the towers where the muezzin calls people to prayer.

Inside, mosques are carpeted and you must remove your shoes.

Famous Mosques• The Ka’aba, in Mecca, Saudi

Arabia

Famous Mosques• Medina

Famous Mosques• The Dome of the Rock, in

Jerusalem, Israel

More Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Rock Interior

Famous Mosques• The Great Mosque of Cordoba

in Spain

Other Famous Architecture:• The Taj Mahal in India• It’s a tomb, but it looks like a

Mosque.• Built by Shah Jahan, a Muslim

ruler of India in the 1600s.

Other Famous Architecture• The Alhambra in Spain• It’s a palace (house).

More Alhambra

More Alhambra

More Alhambra

More Alhambra

Water• Because they were a

desert culture, the early Muslims valued water highly, and often incorporated it into architectural design.

• Water is used for washing before prayers, 5 times a day.

Arabic Science & Math• To create such beautiful art works,

Arabic geometry and math became very advanced.

• They invented algebra.• “Arabic numerals” are still used

today (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).• They were the first to create

hospitals with quarantine, the compass, lenses, and the first to create distilled alcohol as an anesthetic.

• Arab libraries contained math & science books from all over the world, and helped start the Renaissance in Europe.

Your PROJECT• Create an Islamic-style

Geometric design.• It must have RADIAL BALANCE.• You must color the whole thing

with RADIAL BALANCE with 3 or more colors to get full credit.

Islamic Exit Slips

A. Explain ONE way the BELIEFS of Islam influence the ART.

B. Explain ONE way you used Islamic style to create your design.