This course is a general survey of the art and architecture of the classical Islamic lands--the Mediterranean and Near East--from 650 to 1700. We will pay particular attention to the formation of Islamic art--how typical "Islamic" forms developed from the artistic vocabulary of the late antique Mediterranean and Persia. Architecture and manuscript painting will be emphasized, although metalwork, pottery and textiles, so important in the Islamic tradition, will be considered as well. Throughout the course, we will compare Islamic achievements in architecture and painting to the contemporary traditions of western Europe.

While AH111 or 112 provide a useful background in visual analysis and methodology, students with a strong interest in Islamic art or a background in Islamic history and/or religion are welcome to take the class.