Islamic art and culture

6. ISLAMIC ART AND CULTURE ISLAMIC CULTURE -

The Muslims created their original civilisation from both eastern and western sources.

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They played an important rolein spreading the use of inventions like gundpowder, paper, the compass and arabic numbers.

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Muslim cultural achievements:

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In Mathematics: they were experts at algebra

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In science:

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- They improved techniques in irrigation - The manufacture of perfume and paper - They were good astronomers In medicine: there were exceptional doctors like Avicena Philosophy: a Muslim philosopher Averroes influenced over 1chrisian Europe in the 12 th century.

The Arabic language was spoken in a very big geographical area, so cultural advances spread throughout the Muslim world.

6. ISLAMIC ART AND CULTURE -

ISLAMIC ART Islamic art received a variety of influences because Islam spread throughout many places in the world.

There was a religious rule against representing the human figure, because of that they specialised in architecture and the decorative arts.

In architecture, they created magnificent mosques (examples: Damascus in Syria, Cordoba in Spain‌) and they also built fine palaces and fortresses.

In Architecture: -

They employed several architectural features : -

Domes Columns Horseshoe arch

- They used simple materials: bricks and plaster - The walls were covered by fine mosaics, marble and geometric patterns. They also used artistic calligraphy as decoration with sayings from the Quran.

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In the decorative arts: - They made fine ceramics - They illustrated books with miniature paintings

6. ISLAMIC ART AND CULTURE THE MOSQUE -It was the Muslim place of worship and meant “ aplace to kneel down�.

- It had the following parts: - The courtyard (sahn): - It had a large open space surounded by arcades.

- There was a fountain where people purified themselves before prayig.

- A tower or minaret located in one side, where the call to prayer was made.

- The prayer hall (haram): -

It had a covered space divided by arches.

One wall (the quibla) faced towards Mecca.

A niche called mihrab was in this wall (the quibla) Near the mihrab there was a raised platform, where the iman, or religious leader, directed prayers.