In 610, Muhammad received revelations from the “one god,”
Allah, and founded a new monotheistic religion.
At first, Muhammad was forced to flee with his followers into the desert to Medina. But in 630, he returned to Mecca with
10,000 soldiers and took the city. He converted the city to
Islam and destroyed all pagan idols but the kaaba, a small cubical building that housed idols and that Muhammad associated with Abraham.
Islam means “submission to God,” and believers are called
Muslims. Followers must live by the revelations given to
Muhammad and recorded in the Koran. There are 5 pillars of Islam.

The spread of Islam is remarkable.
640: Rule Syria, Palestine, and Iraq
651: Spread to Iran
710: All of North Africa
732: Most of Spain. Stopped by Charles
Martel at Pyrenees

Mosque: A mosque is a center of worship.
There is not a mosque without a minaret. On the minaret, the mihrab points the direction to Mecca for when they pray.
Palaces: Enough said.

The first major Islamic work of architecture, built in 638.
On the same site in
Jerusalem as Solomon’s
Temple (last destroyed by
Titus).
Also reputed to be the site that Adam is buried, where
Abraham sacrificed Isaac, and where Muhammad was taken into heaven, and then, miraculously, in the same night back to Mecca.
Probably world’s most sacred real estate.
Jerusalem is highly significant to three major world religions: Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam

Built in shape of an octagon, much like San
Vitale.
Interior has highly decorative mosaic. Meant to remind those inside of heaven.

Hypostyle Hall had 36 piers and 514 columns topped by double-tiered arches.
Amazingly decorative.
In Islam, depiction of
God is forbidden, so art is created with pattern, geometric and organic, and also with script.

Made of rose colored stone.
“Alhambra” means red.
This dome has 5,000 muqarnasstalactite-like forms.

“Take that, Christian
Byzantines!”
Designed by Sinan, the greatest Ottoman architect.
Built to surpass Hagia
Sophia, whose
Christians said no
Muslim could best.
Dome does, in fact, surpass Hagia Sophia.
Dome is six cubits higher

Mausoleum in
Agra, India, built by Emperor Shah
Jahan for his wife.
Combines
Mughal (Indian) and Islamic archtecture.
Dome and minarets.

Shah Jahan’s wife,
Mumtaz Mahal, was his third and she died in childbirth with his 14th child.
He built this mausoleum for her. Of the Taj, he
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.

“Seduction of Yusuf,” folio
52 from Bustan.
Artist is Bizhad.
Tells of the seduction of
Joseph. According to
Muslim legend, she lured him through 7 doors but when he withstood her, all
7 doors magically opened.
Notice the ornamentation.
Also, the script and skewed perspective.

Persian carpets are famous, for good reason.
This is the Maqsud of Kashan. Finished in 1540. This carpet
35 x 18 feet contains
25 million knots (340 per sq. inch)