Unit 9: Early Islamic Art and Architecture

Question 1

Orientalism

Answer 1

The study of the east by western scholars (how western culture portrays cultures to the east of Europe)

Question 2

Occidentalism

Answer 2

study of the west by western scholars

Question 3

What does orientalism imply?

Answer 3

western scholars portray east as different (exotic, spiritual, sensual) and imply that the west is better and more advanced

Question 4

Example of orientalism

Answer 4

Arab. portrayed as different stereotypes

Question 5

Answer 5

Jean-Leon Gerome
c. 1878
example of orientalism with people being portrayed as sexually deviant and as observers, we are looking at the figures, not associating with them

Question 6

Early Islam

Answer 6

Not much for sculptures
only have icons for deities

Question 7

Islamic geometrical patterns

Answer 7

middle east was in period where mathimatical and scientific thinking are really pushed, which plays into precise geometric patterns

Question 8

Islamic architecture domes

Answer 8

big scientific advancement

Question 9

Answer 9

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
6th century
Was the largest internal space in a building in the world (because of dome)

Question 10

Answer 10

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem (islamic)
late 7th century
covered in glazed porcelian (a skill developed in Islam)

Question 11

Answer 11

great Mosque
Cordoba, Spain
late 10th century
Domes become more ornate. Shows perfection of creation, and how dominant complex math is

Question 12

islamic arches

Answer 12

often arches were pointed for decoration and strength (not all were though)

Question 13

Answer 13

Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Cairo
877-879
has pointed arches

Question 14

Answer 14

Great mosque
Cordoba, Spain
late 10th century
double arches provide support to allow open concept

Question 15

Islamic Minarets

Answer 15

a tower from which the cult worship is called out that was first integrated into the mosque and then spread

Question 16

where did the idea for minarets come from?

Answer 16

began from repurposing building of an old military fort and found that the watch tower worked really well to call worship

Question 17

Answer 17

great Mosque
Damascus
715

Question 18

Answer 18

Great Mosque
Kairouan, Tunisia
724-863

Question 19

What is the circled image called?

Answer 19

a minaret

Question 20

Answer 20

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Mosque
Saskatoon

Question 21

Kufic calligraphy

Answer 21

Islamic
a style of writing where letters are highly stylized and very geometrical
becomes very prominent

Question 22

Answer 22

Qur’an
8th century
example of kufic calligraphy

Question 23

Answer 23

9th century
Another example of kufic calligraphy. tech to do this becomes very important, especially to the chinese

Question 24

Islamic Architecture

Answer 24

Domes, Arches, and Minarets