ARTS 214: Islamic Art and Culture c.700-1700 (Spring '23)

Provides an introduction to the collection of artistic and architectural works that have comprised the visual culture of the Islamic world, from the origins of Islam in the 7th century CE, to the period following the Mongol conquests of Eurasia c. 1250. In doing so, students cover landmark monuments such as the Ka’aba, the Great Mosque of Damascus, or the Alhambra, as well as portable objects such as illustrated manuscripts, textiles, or luxury goods. However, students also engage with broader questions of what it means for art to be “Islamic” and how these works of art fit within our understanding of global history. Students should emerge from this course with an enhanced understanding of the role of the arts in the great Islamic empires of the 8th-18th centuries, as well as new perspectives on the breadth of materials, decorative choices, and visual arrangements developed during this time period.