Course Description

This course is meant as an introduction to the arts and architecture of the Islamic world, from the time of the Prophet to the present day. The course will concentrate on selected moments and monuments in the central historic regions—the Arab Middle East, North Africa, Spain, Iran, India, and Turkey—and consider the relationship of the visual arts to the history, geography, and traditions of each region

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of Islamic art as essentially a devotional art.
• Understanding the philosophy of Islamic art in a historical and contemporary context.
• A working knowledge of Islamic Art and civilization with emphasis on philosophy, art, architecture, crafts, achievements in various fields and lifestyles.
• Knowledge of the place and practice of Islamic Arts in the contemporary Muslim world.
• Understanding of the place of Islamic Arts in the history of art, design, and culture, including but not limited to Pakistan.
• Opportunities to develop an area of emphasis in Islamic Arts.

Course Contents:

1. Art & Culture in the Islamic World
2. Umayyads
   1. Origin
   2. History
   3. Umayyad Architecture

1. Dome of the Rock
2. Masjid al Aqsa 
3. Ummayad Mosque in Damascus
4. The Great Mosque of Kairouan
5. The Desert Palaces

1. Abbasids
   1. Historical Background
   2. Origin
   3. Innovations
   4. Characteristics
   5. Abbasid Architecture

1. The Great Mosque of Sammara, Iraq
2. Abu Dulaf Mosque at Sammara, Iraq
   1. Art of Book Development in Abbasid Period

1. Calligraphy
2. Illuminated Manuscripts
3. Book Illustrations
4. De Materia Medica of Dioscorides.
5. Qalila wa Dimna
6. Varka wa Gulshah
7. Shahnama

1. Fatimids

4.1 History

4.2 Rock Crystal Ewers

4.3 Architecture

      i. Mosque Al-Azhar

1. Mongol Art
   1. Origin
   2. Background
   3. Mongol Painting
2. Timurid Art
   1. History
   2. Illustration
   3. Metal Work, Ceramics and Carving
3. Safavid Dynasty
   1. Historical Background
   2. Ceramics
   3. Metallic Art
   4. Art of the Book

Reference Books:

1. Hatlstein, Mank and Delli, Peter . Islamic art and architecture, Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition,  2017
2. Durant, Vill.  Our Oriental Heritage (Story of Civilization),  Fine Communications, 1997
3. Wells,  H.G., A short history of the world , Forgotten Books (1524),2015
4. Lassner,  Jacob. Islamic Revolution and Historical Memory: An Inquiry into the Art of Abbasid Apologetics (American Oriental Series) Eisenbrauns,1987
5. Ahmed,  Muslim architecture: From the advent of Islam in Arabia to the rise of the great Ummayad Khilafat in Spain,  Pakistan Institute of Arts and Design of Book-Production 1974

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• Sessional: 20   (PowerPoint Presentations, Practical Assignments and Homework)
• Mid exam: 30
• Final exam: 50

RULES AND REGULATIONS

• 75% Attendance will me must.
• Cell Phones should be silent during class.
• Students will bring their laptops in computer lab.
•