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500
Antioch Chalice
ANTIOCH CHALICE (1st half of the sixth century) - Although it is Byzantine rather than Islamic, this chalice shares many characteristics with Islamic motifs. For instance, the figures on the chalice are scaled hierarchically while nature swirls around them. Outside of of the Christian iconography, this chalice displays the influence that Byzantine motifs had on Muslim design. -
570
Birth of Muhammed
The founding prophet of Islam is born in the commecial center of Mecca. Born of merchants, Muhammed would go on to unite the Arab peninsula . Muslims believe he was the last prophet sent from God (Allah) for mankind. -
Nov 1, 622
Hijra
The year 622 is considered Year One in the Islamic calendar because it is the year Muhammed migrated from Mecca to Medina on a journey known as the hijra. In Medina, Muhammed united the Arab tribes. -
Nov 1, 630
Ka'ba
KA'BA (630, rebuilt 692, 1692) - The Ka'ba, meaning "cube", is the holiest site in Islam. Around the Ka'ba is the Masjid al-Haram. one ofthe five pillars of Islam is for every Muslim to journey to the Ka'ba on a Hajj during their lifetime. Muslims also face the Ka'ba during prayer. -
Nov 1, 632
Muhammed's Death
The prophet Muhammed died in 632, leaving the question of who should leave the newly united Muslims. The religion split between Shi'a factions, who follwed Muhammed's cousin, Ali, and Summi factions, who regarded Muhammed's father-in-law as his designated successor. The Sunnis follwed the patriarchal caliphate, which lasted from 632 until 661. -
Period: Nov 1, 661 to Nov 1, 750
Syrian Umayyads
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Nov 2, 715
Great mosque of Damascus
The Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Umayyad Mosque, was built by the Umayyads over a former Christian Basilica to John the Baptist. The mosque emphasized the Islamic presence in the city of Damascus. The outlay of the Great Mosque has been borrowed and replicated by builders in other places. -
Period: Nov 1, 756 to Nov 1, 1031
Spanish Umayyads
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Nov 1, 762
Abbasids move to Baghdad
The Abbasids took over from the Umayyads, and moved the center of their empire from Syria to Baghdad. Baghdad became known as a "city of peace", and a commercial, cultural, and scholarly center. It was even called an "Islamic Rome" with the town circling the goverment's seat and palace. -
Nov 2, 762
Page from the Koran
This is a page from a Koran from the Abbasid dynasty capital of Baghdad. It is created in abeautiful script which is very clear and easy to read. The red parts mark vowels and the gold embellishments mark stopping points between daily prayer. -
Nov 2, 1000
Glass Ewer
Made somewhere between 100 and 1050 under the rule of the Fatimid caliphate, this ewer displays amazing virtuoso and excellent technique. It was created out of a single rock crystal and demonstrated the Fatimids emphasis on portable arts. The natural motif of animals and foliage reflects luxury despite its earthy subject matter. -
Period: Nov 1, 1038 to Nov 1, 1194
Seljuqs
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Nov 2, 1038
Seljuq Mana'i Ware
This bowl from the Seljuq period shows a courtly scene intricately painted on pale pottery that imitates porcelain from the Far East. The figures and Kufic script on the bowl render it a decorative piece as the style imitates those used in book arts. -
Period: Nov 1, 1056 to Nov 1, 1147
Almoravids
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Nov 2, 1086
Friday Mosque of Isfahan
The Friday mosque of Isfahan was constructed under the Seljuqs and reflects the mosque's role as a place for people to gather. The mosque was even attached to the bazzaar. It's a hypostyle structure with various plays on numbers usuing geometric patterns. -
Nov 2, 1125
Al-Aqmar Mosque, Cairo
The Al-Aqmar mosque is one of the few mosques from the FAtimid period tha remain in Cairo. It's shape curls to align itself with the urban ladscape of Cairo around it. the hypostyle decor on the facade relates to court ceremonial imagery and celebrates the light of Fatimid rule. -
Period: Nov 1, 1130 to Nov 1, 1269
Almohads
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Nov 2, 1137
Minbar, Kutubiyya Mosque
When the Almohads moved from Cordoba into Marrakesh, they also transferred the minbar, or pulpit, fromthe Cordoba Mosque to the Kutubiyya Mosque. This virtuoso piece of woodworking is an intricate example of functionality adorned with complex geometric patterns and stylized ornamentation. An image of the minbar was not possible. -
Period: Nov 1, 1230 to Nov 1, 1492
Nasrids
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Nov 1, 1243
Sejuqs defeated by the Mongols
The Turkish Seljuq empire was defeated by Mongolian invaders, who set up the Ilkhanid empire in central Asia. The Anatolian peninsula would remain dominated by the Mongols until the Ottoman Turks recaptured it. -
Period: Nov 1, 1244 to Nov 1, 1465
Masrinids
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Period: Nov 1, 1250 to Nov 1, 1517
Mamluks
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Nov 2, 1250
Ilkhanid Jar
The Ilkhanid dynasty, a Mongol Islamic line of rulers, created beautiful fritware such as this jar. The ilkhanids made considerable effort to associate themselves with western islamic empires, as can be seen by this elongated jar. the pattern on it reflects the spirit of mosque mosaics. -
Period: Nov 1, 1256 to Nov 1, 1335
Ilkhanids
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Feb 10, 1258
Fall of Baghdad
The Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad fell to the Mongols in 1258 after weeks under seige. The Mongols hoped to expand their influence to the Middle East peacefully, but the Abbasids refused to submit peacefully. The fall of Baghdad led to a shift towards Iran as the center of Muslim empire. -
Period: Nov 1, 1281 to
Ottomans
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Nov 2, 1304
Frontispiece of Baybar's Koran
This is the carpet page for a Koran commissioned by the Maluk emporer Baybar. The intricate and lavish image was created by Abu Bakr, one of the great illuminators from the Maluk dynasty. Here, the image almost overwhelms the text, which lies in the upper and lower panels of each page. -
Nov 2, 1340
Great Mongol Shahnamah
The Shahnamah, a Persian text, was illustrated by the Mongols in Iran as a way to link themselves to the glory of the Persian empire and integrate in to local culture. this image of Alexander the Great shows the Eastern influence of the mongols through its setting- its dramatic tree and almost fluid rocks. -
Nov 2, 1342
Mosque Lamp
This is a Mamluk mosque lamp from wither Egypt or Syria. The Mamluk's art is marked by their desire to shar e the words of the Koran with the public, as shown by this lamp, which is lavish with ornament, but keeps the words of the Koran brighter than the design. -
Period: Nov 1, 1370 to Nov 1, 1526
Timurids
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Nov 2, 1370
Alhambra
The Alhambra was built from 1370 until 1391 and was completed by the Nasrid dynasty, towards the end of Muslim rule in Spain.Called the "red fortress" it was a public show of power for the royal family in Grenada. It included private palace for the royal family and rich decor that lent itself to leisure. -
Nov 2, 1440
Great Mongol Shahnamah
This is an illustrated image from the Shahmamah, a collection of Persian poems. in addition to connecting themselves to Islam, the Timurid dynasty also attempted to appropriate Iran's glorious Persian past. The detailed flora of this image and its rolling landscape reflect the order of the Ilkhanids while the small white cloud shows East Asian influence. -
Nov 1, 1453
Ottoman Turks take Constantinople
Islamic Empire threatened Eastern Europe in 1453 when Constantinople was beseiged by the Ottoman Turks. The Byzantine center went through rapid cultural change as the religious symbols of the late Byzantines were replaced with Muslim ones. Constantinople became Istanbul under the Turks. -
Nov 1, 1492
End of official Muslim presence in Spain
In 1492, the christian co-rulers of Spain, Isabella and Ferdinand, drove out the final Muslims in Spain, the Nasrids. The final ruler, Abu abd-Allah, swore loyalty to the Christian forces and took compensation to leave the Iberian Peninsula. -
Period: Nov 1, 1501 to
Safavids
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Period: Nov 1, 1526 to
Mughals
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Nov 2, 1548
Suleymaniye Complex
The Suleymaniye complex was built both as a mosque and a community center, complete with a hospital. primary school, public baths, caravanseria, four schools ofthe Koran, a school ofthe Hadith, a medical school, and a public kitchen. Its distinctive sillouette marks the Ottoman city of Istanbul as Muslim with its four slim minarets. It is meant to overcome the Hagia Sophia and reference the Temple of Solomon and the Dome of the Rock. -
Nov 2, 1550
Emporer's Carpet
This carpet from the Safavid court perfectly represents the Safavids's taste for things lush and pleasurable. Made with silk and wool, its curling design with foliage and animals depict a scene similar to paradise. -
Nov 1, 1556
Ascension of Akbar the Great
Akbar the Great came to rule the Mughal empire in India in 1556 and would continue to rule until 1605. He was a grand commissioner of the book arts, and compiled several styles of art, incuding Persian, European, and indigneous Indian to create a Mughal aesthetic. -
Nov 2, 1575
Tile, Ottoman Iznik ware
This colorful painted tile was created by th Ottoman court and represent's the Ottoman turk's taste for rich reds, greens, and blues and balanced design. The floral patterns mimic those found on rich carpets of the time. The paint adds dimension to the desing by coming up a little bit - adding an extra dimension to the art. -
Detached page from Harivamsa (The Legend of Hari Krishna)
Although the Mughals were a Muslim dynasty, they strove in incorporate several traditions into their artwork, especially their extensive commissioning of book arts. Combining European-style plants and atmospheric perspective, indigenous indian figures, and Persian set design, this image takes on a spirit that is truly Mughal. -
Shah Square, Isfahan
The Maidan was designed by the Safavid Shah as a place where he could meet his people. To the south lay an elaborate and inaccessible palace entrance, known as the Ali Qapu, and the north side connected to the bazaar. The multifunctional facade reveal the connesieurship of the Safavid rulers. -
Taj Mahal
Begun in 1631 and completed in 1647, the Taj Mahal is an iconic piece of Mughal architecture. It's sheer monumentality shows the importance of Shah Jahan's wife, since the complex is a funerary monument to her. It utilizes octagons, symbolic of the eight paradises and uses the juxtaposition ofred sandstone and white marble to create a dramatic and unique building. -
Cairo Founded
The Fatimid dynasty of Egypt found a new city at Cairo. Cairo was the Fatimid capital and was nickmaned "the city of a thousand minarets" for its abundance of Islamic architecture. -
Dome of the Rock
The Dome of the Rock was constructed by the Umayyad dynasty centered in Syria. It is the location of the Foundation Stone, where Muhammed is believed to have gone to heaven. the exterior shows Byzantine influence, but the interior has spectacular Muslim mosaics. -
Abbasid Earthenware from Iraq
This is a 9th century bowl from the Abbasid caliphate centered in Baghdad. It's a great example of decorative earthenware ,which was produced through double firing and painting with a white slip. -
Abbasid Lusterware from Samarra
This piece of lusterware was produced in the 9th or 10th century in the Abbasid temporary capital of Samarra. Lusterware was produced through double firing covered with a metallic, usually tin, glaze. The white elements of the bowl aimed to imitate Chinese porcelain, and the balanced pattern showsthe Islamic affinity for whirled, geometric ornament. -
Great Mosque of Cordoba
Although it was begun as a Visigothic cathedral to Saint Vincent, the Great Mosque at Cordoba became a hallmark of Islamic power in the Iberian peninsula. Built by the Umayyads, who had been exiled from Syria, it reflected elements of the Mosque of Damascus. constructed of spolia fro mthe Visigoths, the mosque poularized the horseshoe arch and presented a magnificent courtyard. -
Period: to Nov 1, 1258
Abbasids
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Period: to Nov 1, 1171
Fatimids
