3.00 Credits
Description: This course provides an introduction to the art and architecture of the Islamic worlds. Students first examine the creation of Islamic visual culture in the Middle East (7th-8th centuries) before exploring its development and spread across North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, and Central Asia (9th-14th centuries). The course culminates in a comparative survey of the imperial art, architectural, and urban traditions of the Safavid, Ottoman, and Mughal empires while highlighting issues related to global trade, diplomacy, colonialism, and westernization (15th-19th centuries). Topics such as figural representation, sectarianism, and cultural heritage issues are considered throughout the course. Notes: Offered periodically.