This module provides an introduction to the form, function and development of Islamic art and architecture, focusing on medieval Cairo. Starting with the origins of Islam and its art and architecture, we examine how the city of Cairo – one of the densest concentrations of medieval art and architecture in the world – was shaped by the beliefs, tastes and needs of its inhabitants. This was an extraordinarily rich visual culture, in which ancient Egyptian tombs and columns were reused in mosques and palaces, mihrabs were ornamented with delicate mosaics and Qur’anic inscriptions, textiles were prized above all other materials, and networks of faith and power can be traced across the city.
Objectives
By the end of the module students should:
have a basic understanding of Islamic history and belief, and the history of medieval Cairo
be familiar with a particular technical vocabulary relevant to Islamic art and society, and the different forms and functions of Islamic buildings and their furnishings and urban settings.
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