Islamic & Indian Architecture PDF
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These lecture notes provide an overview of Islamic and Indian architecture, including historical timelines, influences, and architectural characteristics. The document explores religious aspects, societal influences, and key figures like Muhammad.
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Islamic The Historical Timeline of Architecture...
Islamic The Historical Timeline of Architecture Egyptian Byzantine Pre-Historic Greek Roman Early Christian PRE-HISTORIC history of architecture NEAR EAST EGYPTIAN GREEK ROMAN EARLY CHRISTIAN Near East Islamic BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE GOTHIC RENAISSANCE 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 20TH C MODERN ISLAMIC INDIAN CHINESE & JAPANESE FILIPINO Islamic Muhammad died in 632 AD, but his Muslim followers were ready to spread his teachings Concerted efforts by conquering Arabic tribes to spread Islam North into Central Asia Westward to Africa Along trade routes into India Among the Turks and Mongols Spread of Islam is associated with military conquest and racial movements Establish a cultural tie with Arabian heartland, with annual pilgrimage to Mecca PRE-HISTORIC history of architecture NEAR EAST INFLUENCES EGYPTIAN GREEK HISTORY ROMAN The religion of Islam began in Arabia EARLY CHRISTIAN 610 AD, Muhammad from Mecca saw visions of an angel SOCIETY BYZANTINE Message from Allah to stop worshipping false idols and Tribal groups ROMANESQUE to accept the will of god “Islam” Pu blic life wa s rese rv e d f or m en ( wo m e n h ad a GOTHIC Arabs of Mecca rejected this message secondary role - for domestic and agricultural work) RENAISSANCE Christians and Jews ("people of the book“) were given 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 622 AD, the Hegira - Muhammad moved to Medina and the freedom of worship and self-government 20TH C MODERN converted the people into Islam Within 10 years, the framework of religion and military Many of the conquered cities were already centers of ISLAMIC or gan izat ion t as k ed wi t h s pr ead in g t he f a it h wa s learning INDIAN established Muslims translated into Arabic many scholarly writings CHINESE & JAPANESE from Greek, Persian and Indian Medina then fought Mecca and in 630 AD destroyed all FILIPINO Rulers and scholars were interested in mathematics, its idols and converted it to Islam astronomy, geography, medicine, philosophy and science Islamic RELIGION ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Last of 3 great religions of Middle East Complete philosophy of life and government DESCRIPTION One god Allah, Muhammad is the prophet Countries already rich in building tradition Faith is held to be Allah's will for creation Product of the rapid conquest of diverse territories by a people with no architectural tradition Acceptance of the transitory nature of earthly life Synthesis of styles under one philosophy but in many Personal humility different circumstances Abhorrence of image worship Islam had a profound impact on its architecture: No essential difference in techniques between religious and non-religious buildings Important architectural endeavor is normally expended on buildings having a direct social or community purpose Decorations tend toward the abstract, using geometric, calligraphic and plant motifs, with a preference for a uniform field of decoration rather than a focal element Basic conservatism discourages innovations and favors established forms Symmetry and balance (as in the concept of perfect PRE-HISTORIC creation) history of architecture NEAR EAST Centered upon God EGYPTIAN Related to a principal axis, the kibla, pointing towards GREEK Mecca ROMAN EARLY CHRISTIAN BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE GOTHIC Koran RENAISSANCE Muhammad wrote down the words of angels who 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL brought him messages from Allah 20TH C MODERN After his death, these accounts were compiled into a holy book ISLAMIC Speaks of the power of Allah, to accept his will and to DECORATION INDIAN praise him in lieu o f human and animal for ms: abstract a nd CHINESE & JAPANESE geometric motifs, calligraphy, floral abstraction, geometric FILIPINO 5 Pillars of Islam: Declaring faith in god, Prayer, Fasting, interlacement, mouldings and friezes, carvings in bas Giving to charity, Pilgrimage to Mecca relief, stone inlay and mosaic, patterned brickwork, Also jihad or holy war is sometimes added as a pillar to ceramic and glass mosaic, painting, t imber inlay, spread the faith and defend it from attack Arabesques, screen or pierced grilles in marble Islamic EXAMPLES PARTS OF A MOSQUE MOSQUE The prophet Muhammad called on people to honor Allah in prayer - mosques were built wherever Islam had spread Principal place of worship Building used for Friday prayer Prime purpose was contemplation and prayer Could also be used as a school, place for transactions, storage for treasures, place for hearing official notices Masjid - small prayer house PRE-HISTORIC Madrassah - religious college and mosque history of architecture NEAR EAST Sahn - cloistered or arcaded courtyard is a fundamental EGYPTIAN Inward-looking building feature GREEK Courtyard with sides punctuated with gateways, prayer Fawwara - fountain ROMAN chambers and porches Mihrab - niche oriented towards Mecca EARLY CHRISTIAN No positive object of attention or adoration Dikka - reading desk BYZANTINE Conceived around an axis towards Mecca Maqsura - screen ROMANESQUE In every mosque, there is a wall with a hole or niche cut Mimbar - raised platform for ceremonial announcements GOTHIC into it, showing the direction of Mecca Iwan - open-fronted porch facing a court RENAISSANCE Minaret - tower from which a call to prayer is made 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL Kibla - axis oriented towards Mecca 20TH C MODERN Personalities: ISLAMIC Muezzin - caller who summons the faithful to prayer INDIAN Imam - man who leads congregation in prayer CHINESE & JAPANESE Caliph - successor to the prophet as military, judicial, or FILIPINO spiritual leader of Islam Sufi - holy man Islamic Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem (Kubbet-es-Sakhra) 688 to 692 AD Most important Islamic structure Great central dome covers the summit of Mt. Moriah (from where the prophet is believed to have made his ride to heaven) PRE-HISTORIC history of architecture NEAR EAST The Great Mosque, Damascus EGYPTIAN Earliest surviving large mosque, built in 705-711 AD GREEK Stood in a walled temenos ROMAN EARLY CHRISTIAN BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE GOTHIC RENAISSANCE 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 20TH C MODERN ISLAMIC INDIAN CHINESE & JAPANESE FILIPINO Dar al-Imara and Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo The Great Mosque, Cordoba 876 to 879 AD 785 AD Islamic SARAY or SERAI TOMBS Palace with courtyard The Taj-Mahal, Agra (1630 to 1653 AD) Built by the emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal PRE-HISTORIC Took 11 years to build and 20,000 to work on it history of architecture NEAR EAST Covered in white marble, which reflects the changing EGYPTIAN colors of the sun GREEK Sits in a well-landscaped garden ROMAN EARLY CHRISTIAN BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE GOTHIC RENAISSANCE 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 20TH C MODERN ISLAMIC INDIAN CHINESE & JAPANESE FILIPINO The Alhambra, Granada (1338 to 1390 AD) Fortified palace and complex of buildings set in gardens One of most elaborate and richly decorated Islamic Tomb of Humayun, Delhi palaces 1565 AD Indian The Historical Timeline of Architecture Egyptian Byzantine Pre-Historic Greek Roman Early Christian Romanesque Gothic Renaissance 18th-19th C: 20th C: PRE-HISTORIC Revival Modern history of architecture NEAR EAST EGYPTIAN GREEK ROMAN EARLY CHRISTIAN Near East Islamic BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE GOTHIC RENAISSANCE 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 20TH C MODERN ISLAMIC Indian INDIAN CHINESE & JAPANESE FILIPINO Indian 1500 BC Aryans from the north moved into India Set-up 16 separate kingdoms all over Mauryan Empire Most powerful, the Magadha kingdom, conquered all under King Ashoka other kingdoms Established the Mauryan Empire in 300 BC under King Ashoka Links: Mesopotamian Cultures (from 2500 to 1500 BC) Central Asia (via mountain passes in the north) Persia and Greco-Roman Western Asia (via Baluchistan) Successive military and economic incursions brought art an d ar chi t ect ur e: Ar ya n , Per sia n, G r eco- Ro ma n , Sassanian, Muslim, Portuguese, French, English RELIGION PRE-HISTORIC history of architecture NEAR EAST Hinduism INFLUENCES EGYPTIAN Main religion of India GREEK Along with Judaism, the worlds oldest surviving religion HISTORY ROMAN From indigenous Dravidians and Aryan invaders Third great civilization to emerge in a fertile river valley EARLY CHRISTIAN I n d us r iv e r 25 0 0 BC , p r e s e n t -d a y Pa k is t a n a n d Chief gods: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva BYZANTINE Northwest India Belief in reincarnation, the soul comes back to life in a ROMANESQUE Major cities were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa different body GOTHIC Each city was ruled by priest-kings, citadels atop the city Caste system: priests, warriors and nobles, farmers and RENAISSANCE Lasted only 800 years traders, laborers and servants, untouchables 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 20TH C MODERN Buddhism Many people disliked the way Hindu society divided ISLAMIC people into castes INDIAN Gautama Siddhartha 563 – 483 BC, gave up his princely CHINESE & JAPANESE life to search for wisdom FILIPINO After 6 years of wandering, he found enlightenment through a deep thinking process called meditation Overcome human weakness including greed and anger Salvation or nirvana Indian MANDIRA Hindu temple with a interior sanctuary called a vimana Capped by a tapering spire-shaped tower – sikhara Porch-like mandapa halls for dancing and music STAMBHAS or LATHS Monumental pillars standing free without any structural function Circular or octagonal shafts Capital Persepolitan in form, bell-shaped and crowned with animals carrying the Challra, wheel of law PRE-HISTORIC history of architecture NEAR EAST EGYPTIAN GREEK ROMAN EARLY CHRISTIAN BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE GOTHIC RENAISSANCE 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 20TH C MODERN ISLAMIC INDIAN CHINESE & JAPANESE FILIPINO Indian STUPAS Buddhist memorial mound erected to enshrine a relic of Buddha, to commemorate special events or mark a sacred spot Regarded as symbols of the universe Based on the pre-historic funerary tumulus Artificial domical mounds raised on a platform With processional paths, rails, gateways, crowning umbrella called a chattri PRE-HISTORIC history of architecture NEAR EAST EGYPTIAN GREEK VIHARAS ROMAN Buddhist monasteries often excavated from solid rock EARLY CHRISTIAN Central pillared chamber or quadrangle surrounded by BYZANTINE verandah ROMANESQUE Small sleeping cells on the sides GOTHIC In front stood the courtyard containing the stupa RENAISSANCE 18TH-19TH C REVIVAL 20TH C MODERN ISLAMIC INDIAN CHINESE & JAPANESE FILIPINO CHAITYAS Buddhist shrine also carved out of solid rock Formed like an aisled basilica with a stupa at one end