Download 5 - LaCourART

5
THE ISLAMIC WORLD
TEXT PAGES 147-155
1. List five regions conquered by Muslim soldiers in the 7th century.
(page 147)
a. Syria
b. Palestine
c. Iraq
d. Northern Egypt
e. Iran
2. What important Christian city fell to the Muslims in 1453? Constantinople (page 147)
3. Define or identify following:
caliph- The political and religious leaders who succeeded Muhammad (page 148)
Hijira- Islam and its calendar date everything beginning with the Hijira in 622 CE; the
Hijira marked Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina. (page 148)
imam- The leader of collective worship (page 150)
Islam- The word Islam means submission to God (page 148)
Kaaba- The symbolic center of Islam; located in Mecca. Physically, the Kaaba is a
small cubical building that used to house idols. (page 148)
Muhammad- Founder of Islam; revered as the Final Prophet (page 148)
ARCHITECTURE
1. Define or identify following architectural terms:
hypostyle hall- Generally used in early mosques, hypostyle halls consist of room filled
with columns that hold up the roof. (page 150)
iwan- A vaulted rectangular recess, usually one is placed on each side of a courtyard
(page 150)
minaret- A tower from which the faithful are called to worship (page 150)
minbar- A stepped pulpit found in a mosque from which the imam preaches (page 150)
mihrab- A niche in the qibla wall that indicates the direction of prayer (page 150)
qibla wall- Indicates the direction of prayer in a mosque; it is always oriented toward
Mecca (page 150)
squinch- An architectural devise used to transition from a square base to a circular or
polygonal base of a dome; squinches can be composed of lintels, corbels, or arches
(page 151)
2. Where was the Dome of the Rock constructed? Jerusalem (page 147)
The shape was influenced by: Although similar to the octagonal plan of San Vitale in
Ravenna, the Dome of the Rock’s design was probably based on Constantine’s Rotunda
of the Holy Sepulchre. (page 148)
How was it decorated? The exterior of the Dome of the Rock is decorated with 16th
century tiles, while the interior is still decorated with its original mosaics. (page 149)
3. The Great Mosque of Kairouan is a typical hypostyle mosque. Draw a simple sketch of
the plan from FIG. 5-3, and label the forecourt, qibla wall, mihrab, minaret, and
prayer hall.
5. What is the Alhambra and what were its lush gardens intended to evoke?
Located in Granada, the Alhambra was a palace complex built by the Nasrids, the ruling
Arab dynasty in the Muslim territories of Spain. The gardens were meant to evoke image
of Paradise. (page 151)
6. What are muqarnas, and how were they used in the Alhambra? Muqarnas are
decorative stalactite niching, usually made of stucco. At Alhambra it is used to decorate
the ceiling of the dome covering the Hall of the Two Sisters. (pages 151-152)
7. Describe the features of the Great Mosque of Isfahan that became standard for Iranian
mosque design: The Great Mosque of Isfahan is preceded by a large courtyard
flanked by a two-story arcade. Entrances to the courtyard are marked at each side by
an iwan (four total), with the largest iwan leading to the qibla wall of the moque. The
mihrab in the mosque is covered with a dome. (page 152)
The brick core of the mosque was sheathed with
ceramic tiles
. (page 152)
8. What is calligraphy and how was it used on the mihrab shown in FIG. 5-8?
Caligraphy is ornamental writing. It is used to decorate the mihrab (FIG. 5-8) with
verses from the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Various types of calligraphy are used in
this mihrab, including Kufic and Muhaqqaq. (page 152)
9. Why are human figures not portrayed in mosques and copies of the Koran?
The Islamic tradition forbids the representation of people and animal forms in religious
contexts for fear of idolatry. Therefore, these forms are never decorate mosques or
copies of the Koran. (page 154)
10. Why were textiles so highly valued in the Islamic world?
In the Islamic world, rooms were not furnished with wooden furniture, but with textiles
such as rugs. Thus, textiles played a central role in spaces and were highly valued.
(page 154)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Study the reproductions of the following buildings: Hagia Sophia (FIGS. 4-10 to 4-12), the
Mosque at Cordoba (FIGS. 5-4 & 5-5), and the Pantheon (FIGS. 3-34 & 3-35). Compare
the lighting effects created by each, and describe the means used to achieve such effects.
2. Discuss the interplay of architectural mass and decoration found in the Dome of the Rock
(FIG. 5-1 & 5-2) the Great Mosque at Kairouan (FIG. 5-3), the Mosque at Cordoba
(FIGS. 5-4 & 5-5), and the Great Mosque at Isfahan (FIG. 5-7).
3. Compare the treatment of volume and space in the manuscript illumination from the
Koran shown on FIG. 5-9 with that in the Paris Psalter (FIG. 4-23) and the Book of
Kells shown on FIG. 6-3). What factors might account for the differences?
4. After having read the chapter, do you feel that the essential qualities of Islamic art
distinguish it from or relate it to Western art? How?
PICTORIAL ANALYSIS
LOOKING CAREFULLY, DESCRIBING, AND ANALYZING
Write at least a page analyzing the carpet from Ardabil shown on FIG. 5-10. Note its size
and the number of knots that were used to create the elaborate pattern. Look carefully at
the carpet, and see if you can find the various forms described in the commentary.
Describe or draw each of them.
SUMMARY OF ISLAMIC ART
Using the timeline on page 155 of the text, enter the approximate dates for the following
periods. Then fill in the chart as much as you can from memory; check your answers
against the text and complete the chart.
Birth and Death of Muhammad: ________ to ________
Conquest of Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Persia: ________ to ________
Battle of Poitiers: ________
Conquest of Constantinople: ________
Fall of Granada: ________
Typical Examples
Stylistic Characteristics
Significant Historical
People, Events, Ideas, etc.
Architecture
______________________________________________________________________________________
Architectural Decor
______________________________________________________________________________________
Book Illustration
______________________________________________________________________________________
Textiles
MAP
Locate and circle the following locations on the maps below:
Mecca
Medina
Jerusalem
Kairouan
Cordoba
Isfahan
Istanbul
Map 5-1 The Islamic World
Granada