Survey of Islamic Art and Architecture 661-1492

Catalog description

This course introduces students to Islamic art and architecture with a particular focus on the cultures of the Mediterranean and Near East from the Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE) to the end of the fifteenth century. Students will gain familiarity with a range of media and techniques of artistic production, from architecture to portable arts including metalwork, ceramics, painting, and calligraphy. This course will engage with the diverse artistic traditions of North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, Turkey, and the Levant. Throughout the semester we will investigate the arts of the Islamic cultures of the Mediterranean and Near East through recurring themes of cross-cultural encounter, ethnic and religious identity, gender, and social stratification. Satisfies Art major and requirement. Satiafies Arab Studies major and minor requirement. Satisfies Visual and Performing Arts requirement.