Art and Architecture of the Islamic World

This course examines the visual culture of the Islamic world from the advent of Islam in 622 C.E. until the 17th century. It will stress, however, the early years when artists and architects develop the main forms of Islamic art. We will investigate how the Islamic faith gave rise to a distinct repertory of motifs, a unique architecture, and a singular style in the first decades of its existence and how these features were modified with the passage of time. While this course is intended to be a general survey, certain significant monuments, such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba, and themes, for example the Islamic city, will be explored at greater depth.