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Mr. Wright's Art Class: Living with Art, Chapter 18 - Islam and Africa, Part 1

William Wright・31 minutes read

Islam, with its origins in the 7th century, spread through Muhammad's teachings and the creation of new sects, influencing art, architecture, and scientific advancements throughout history. Despite setbacks like the Mongol invasion, Islamic scholars made significant contributions to fields like medicine, mathematics, and technology, showcasing the cultural and intellectual richness of the Islamic world.

Insights

  • Islam, originating in the 7th century, spread through the leadership of Muhammad and his successors, uniting tribes and establishing a significant global presence. Mosques, with unique architectural features like minarets and mihrabs, serve as central places of worship, reflecting the cultural and artistic richness of Islamic civilization.
  • Despite facing setbacks like the Mongol invasion, the Islamic world made groundbreaking advancements in art, science, and innovation, such as pioneering surgeries, developing algebra, and inventing the toothbrush. These contributions, along with cultural achievements like musical innovations and culinary introductions, highlight the diverse and impactful legacy of Islamic civilization beyond religious boundaries.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of the Hijra in Islam?

    The Hijra marked Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622, a pivotal event that shifted the spread of Islam. It led to the establishment of a new community and calendar, laying the foundation for the growth of the religion.

  • How did Islamic art contribute to culture?

    Islamic art, particularly mosque architecture, played a crucial role in the culture. Mosques served as places of prayer and congregation, showcasing unique features like courtyards, arcades, covered porches, and minarets. The art emphasized calligraphy, patterns, and motifs, avoiding depictions of animate beings.

  • What are key features of Islamic mosques?

    Islamic mosques vary in design but commonly include elements like courtyards, arcades, covered porches, and minarets. The mihrab serves as the focal point for prayer, while mosques worldwide incorporate diverse architectural influences, such as pointed domes, ribbed arches, and intricate calligraphy.

  • How did the Mongol invasion impact the Islamic world?

    The Mongol invasion in 1258 led to widespread devastation and the fall of Baghdad, causing a setback for the Islamic world. However, it also resulted in the adoption of Islam by the conquerors, eventually giving rise to the Mughal Empire. Despite the challenges, Islamic scholars made significant advancements in art, science, and innovation.

  • What contributions did the Islamic world make to knowledge?

    The Islamic world made groundbreaking contributions to knowledge, including inventing the toothbrush, pioneering musical innovations, creating the predecessor of the violin, establishing the first known university, and introducing the culinary use of lemons. Scholars also made advancements in surgery, distillation, algebra, and hypothetical numbers, showcasing the era's advancements and unification in the Middle East.

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Summary

00:00

"Islam's Influence on Art and Architecture"

  • Professor William Wright discusses Chapter 18 of "Living with Art" by Mark Getlein, focusing on cultures and ideas outside the typical Western civilization trajectory.
  • Chapters 18, 19, and 20 cover Islam in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific and the Americas, respectively.
  • Islam, originating in the 7th century, was founded by Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula, leading to the creation of a new religion based on submission to God.
  • Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622, known as the Hijra, marked a significant shift in the spread of Islam.
  • Islam's successors expanded the religion to regions like Spain and India, leading to the development of Shia and Sunni sects.
  • The spread of Islam helped unite warring tribes in the Arab region, establishing a far-reaching world power.
  • Islamic art, particularly mosque architecture, is a significant aspect of the culture, with mosques serving as places of prayer and congregation.
  • Key features of mosques include courtyards, arcades, covered porches, and minarets, with the mihrab serving as the focal point for prayer.
  • Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, houses the Kaaba, the first house of worship built by Abraham, towards which the qibla wall always faces.
  • Mosques worldwide vary in design, with regions like Iran incorporating elements from ancient Mesopotamian and Persian cultures, such as blue and turquoise tile motifs and pointed arches.

14:27

Islamic Architecture and Art: A Brief Overview

  • Islamic architecture features pointed domes and ribbed arches, with niches called mukharans filled with calligraphy and patterns.
  • The original mosque in Cordoba, Spain, combines a mosque and cathedral, showcasing columns, arches, and repetitive patterning.
  • The dome of the Cordoba mosque is Byzantine in style, made with 35,000 pounds of tesserae in gold and turquoise.
  • Islamic mosques avoid depicting animate beings in art, focusing on calligraphy, patterns, and motifs instead.
  • Dearborn, Michigan, houses the largest Islamic population in the US, with a mosque featuring dome structures and minarets for the call to prayer.
  • Minarets serve as a signal for prayer times, akin to a bell tower, with a singer or loudspeaker announcing prayer times.
  • Islamic art emphasizes calligraphy and book arts, using stylized writing and motifs like leaves and flowers for decoration.
  • Ahmad al-Zurawadi created gilded Kufic text, showcasing the beauty and importance of calligraphy in Islamic art.
  • Islamic literature often avoids depicting figures, using calligraphy and motifs instead, except in non-religious texts or historical contexts.
  • Islamic ceramics feature highly decorated pieces with calligraphic writing, leaf motifs, and later inspired by Chinese white porcelain with cobalt blue decoration.

28:51

Islamic Scholars' Advancements and Setbacks in Asia

  • Islamic scholars in Asia Minor and Turkey made significant advancements in art and science during the Middle Ages, outpacing Europe's development. However, the Islamic world faced a major setback when Genghis Khan and the Mongols invaded, causing widespread devastation and leading to the fall of Baghdad in 1258.
  • The Mongol invasion led to the adoption of various religions by the conquerors, including Islam, which eventually gave rise to the Mughal Empire. Despite the setbacks, Islamic scholars made groundbreaking innovations such as performing the first surgeries, inventing distillation for cleaning and anesthetizing materials, and developing algebra and the concept of hypothetical numbers.
  • The Islamic world also contributed to the world's knowledge by inventing the toothbrush, pioneering musical innovations, creating the predecessor of the violin, establishing the first known university, and introducing the culinary use of lemons. These achievements, although not always directly associated with Islam, showcase the era's advancements and unification in the Middle East.
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