***Thank you to VALERIE WHITE of Vista High School, for all her help.  All APAH content and information made  possible from her hard work.  
Also, thank you to Dr. Robert Coad for his guidance and materials.
​


​ARTWORKS
Pyxis of al-Mughira
Basin by Muhammad ibn al-Zain
Folio from the Qur'an
The Ardabil Carpet
The Court of Gayumars
Bahram Gur Fights the Karg
The Kaaba
Dome of the Rock
​Great Mosque (Isfahan, Iran)
Great Mosque of Cordoba
Alhambra
Mosque of Selim II
Taj Mahal


​VOCABULARY
Islam
Mosque
Muhammad
Qur'an (Koran)
Dome of the Rock
5 Pillars of Faith
mihrab
imam
qibla
minaret
arabesque
​calligraphy (kufic)
tessellation
squinch
anionic

KEY IDEAS
  • Most important building for Muslim worship is the mosque.
  • Islamic people pray towards the city of Mecca, the most holiest site in Islam (identified by a niche in the wall of a mosque, called a mihrab)
  • The mirhrab is a niche in the quibla wall 
  • Artworks include calligraphy with arabesques (interweaving and floral motifs and geometric patterns) and tessellations
  • Calligraphy is the most prized art form (Persian Manuscripts, Qur'an)


BRIEF HISTORY OF ISLAM
  • Founder is Islam is the prophet Muhammad and began preaching in 613 BCE.
  • Muhammad exclaimed that there is only one God (Allah) and that he is the chosen messenger to the people.
  • Indigenous Arabs were generally polytheists
  • There are 5 Pillars of Islam
  1. Proclaim that there is only one God and that his prophet is Muhammad
  2. Muslims should pray 5 times per day toward Mecca
  3. Provide for the poor
  4. Must fast during the month of Ramadan
  5. Make a pilgrimage to Mecca
  • Expanded to North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Spain, India, and Central Asia by the 7th century.
  • After the Mongol sack of Baghdad in 1258, the Islamic world split into 2 huge cultural divisions: East vs. West
  • 2 principal divisions: Shiite vs. Sunni (click here for a comparison chart)
​

Interesting article by Christie's about some Islamic "finds"!
www.christies.com/features/Discovery-Islamic-and-Indian-Art-6909-1.aspx

Create your own tile coaster inspired by Iznik tile designs!