The Civilization of the Islamic World (The Illustrated History of the Ancient World)

Readers are presented with a vivid portrait of the classical Islamic world through its greatest architectural sites and art treasures. Drawn from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Asia, as well as from various time periods and empires, the artifacts highlighted in this book show the beauty and rich diversity of Islamic culture. Photographs feature stunning examples of Islamic architecture, carpets and textiles, paintings, illuminated manuscripts and calligraphy, and other arts, and the text provides fascinating background on the evolution of their forms and styles. Readers will gain an appreciation of the uniqueness of Islamic art, as well as its connections to a wider global heritage. Readers are presented with a vivid portrait of the classical Islamic world through its greatest architectural sites and art treasures. Drawn from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Asia, as well as from various time periods and empires, the artifacts highlighted in this book show the beauty and rich diversity of Islamic culture. Photographs feature stunning examples of Islamic architecture, carpets and textiles, paintings, illuminated manuscripts and calligraphy, and other arts. The narrative provides fascinating background on the evolution of their forms and styles. Readers will gain an appreciation of the uniqueness of Islamic art, as well as its connections to a wider global heritage. Origins : a gift from god The empire of Islam : the Umayyads and 'Abbasids Imams, princes, and sultans : rivals of the 'Abbasids Fusion in the west : Iberia and the Maghreb Sultan and shah : Iran and Central Asia Principality to empire : Islam in Anatolia Overlords of the Orient : South Asia and the Far East. Examines the classical Islamic world through its greatest architectural sites and art treasures, providing examples of Islamic architecture, carpets and textiles, paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and calligraphy, and showing the evolution of their forms and styles