Download Art History of the Ancient Near (Middle) East

Art History of the Ancient Near (Middle) East
One of the earliest
civilizations is born c. 9000
B.C. . This area is modern
day: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey
etc.. Some of the empires
located here were:
Mesopotamia, Babylon,
Sumeria and Persia.
The Bronze Age begins here c. 2800
B.C. Metal provided advances in art,
farming, war, travel and cooking. Copper
had been worked since 7000 B.C. but it
is soft. Stronger, bronze is a
combination of copper and tin. Bronze
made it possible for these Asian
invaders to conquer ancient Egypt and
bring on the Middle Kingdom.
1
Art History of the Ancient Near (Middle) East
ARCHITECTURE
Ziggurat, Mesopotamia, c. 2100 B.C.
Invented here, a ziggurat is is a
stepped, un-pointed, pyramid with a
temple on its flat top. It symbolizes a
connection between heaven and
earth, showing wealth and stability to
glorify god.
Ishtar Gate, Babylon, now Iraq c. 575 B.C.
A mosaic is a larger image made
of smaller pieces. There were
mosaics invented here made of
clay tiles in earth tone colors as
early as 3000 B.C.
2
Art History of the Ancient Near (Middle) East
Islamic Art
In 610 AD/CE an Arab merchant named Muhammad, had a vision in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia. T his message was written in the Koran after his death. People who
follow him as a prophet study Islam and are called Muslims. They share much of the
old testament with Jewish and Christian faiths. Allah is the Arabic word for God.
Mohammed at the Kaaba.
Manuscript, Turkey, 1595 CE. It is
against the Muslim religion to show the
face of the holy profit Mohammed.
Banner of Las Navas de Tolosa,
Spain, 1212-1250 CE. Rugs are an
important part of Islamic faith use as
portable floor coverings to pray upon.
3
Art History of the Ancient Near (Middle) East
Islamic Architecture
Islamic builders invented the Horseshoe and Pointed Arches. Arches
are much stronger than rectangular doorways and made it possible to
build bigger building with windows. When Muslims invaded southern
Europe the arch was adopted there and cathedrals became possible.
Horseshoe Arch
Pointed Arch
Al-Haram Masque,1564 A.D., Mecca. The most holy site in Islam. Home
to the Ka’ba, an ancient cube shaped stone believed to be the house that
4
Abraham built for God, rebuilt in 683 A.D./C.E.
Review: Art History of the Ancient Near (Middle) East
F
A
B
C
D
E
1. Name 3 modern countries in the area where ancient Mesopotamia was?
2. Name 2 objects Middle Eastern artists invented. Choose the letter of 1
picture above as an example.
3. Name “a larger image made of smaller pieces. ”. Choose the letter of 1 picture
above as an example.
4. What is the name of an especially Mesopotamian type of building with a flat top
and a temple on it? Choose the letter of 1 picture above as an example.
5. People from the “Middle East” were the “Asian invaders” that conquered
Egypt and started the Middle Kingdom. What invention made that possible?
6. What was 1 benefit of the invention of Bronze?
7. Name the most sacred site in Islam. Choose the letter of 1 picture above as an
example.
8. Whose face, in Muslim law can not be shown in pictures? Choose the letter of 1
picture above as an example.
5
Word Bank


















Bronze
advances in travel
Ziggurat
Horseshoe Arch
Iran
Turkey
advances in war
Pointed Arch
Al-Haram Masque
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Ka’ba
Muhammad
advances in art
Mecca
advances in farming
Syria
advances in cooking
6
Quiz:
Art
of
the
Middle
East
1. What modern day countries make-up ancient Mesopotamia?
+______
4 pt.
Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey
10
2. List 2 things that Mesopotamians invented (were the 1 st to do).
2 pt.
bronze casting, Cuneiform, or written language
3. What is the name of “an image made by small colored pieces stuck onto
another surface”?
1 pt.
Mosaic
4. What is the name of an especially Mesopotamian type of building with a
flat top and a temple on it?
1 pt. Ziggurat
5. People from the “Middle East” were the “Asian invaders” that
conquered Egypt during the middle kingdom. What invention made that
possible? bronze casting
1 pt.
Word Bank
7