Islamic

Islamic design focuses primarily on the religion of Islam, hence the name. Mohammed is the figure-head of the Islamic religion. Mohammed lived from 570-632 CE. The religion streets from Africa, Europe, to Asia. There is a great variety in design according to region.
One example of Islamic design is the Great Mosque of Kairouan, built from 820-836 CE. The most famous area of this structure is the Prayer Hall of the Great Mosque. The space utilizes classic capitols with Islamic arches, an example being the horseshoe arch. This is the most famous mosque in Tunisia, North Africa.
Persian architecture stems from Istanbul, Turkey- Constantinople. A famous mosque in this area is the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed, built from 1609-1617. It is nicknamed the "Blue Mosque" and has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The architectural patterns in the mosque originate from textiles such as carpets. This mosque has over 20,000 hand made tiles and over 50 different tulip designs. With 200 stained glass windows and walls that look like carpets, this space is incredibly impressive. The decoration is geometric and non-representational.
Indian architecture stems from the Muslim capitol established in Delhi, India in the 12th century. Mughal rule is significant in building initiatives including residential and secular buildings. One of the most famous architectural advancements, the Taj Mahal, was built during this time period.
The Taj Mahal was built from 1632-1648 CE and is a white domed marble mausoleum. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was distraught after his wife passed away during childbirth, so he commissioned this building in remembrance of her. The building is seen as an earthly replica of the house of Mumtaz in paradise.
Islamic design in Spain is a fusion of European and Islamic design. Jews, Christians, and Muslims thrived in Islamic Spain. One of the most famous examples of Islamic Spanish architecture is the Great Mosque of Cordoba, known for its prayer hall. It is an example of hypostyle architectural design.
Another great example is the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It is a large palace and complex fortress built in 1250-1360 CE. The Alhambra features Arabesque design with acanthus leaves and vines. The Alhambra's most notable features are the muquarnas-filled arches and domes found throughout the palace.

Past Examples:

Current Examples:

Extra Credit:
This is a video touring the Alhambra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MayHnjIw48o
This is a video touring the Great Mosque of Cordoba:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3etLlvo1v4

Peer Review:

Savannah: Great job explaining the Taj Mahal. I like that you focused more on single buildings than the period as a whole. 

Angie: You did a really nice job explaining the importance of religion on Islamic design. Your blog was easy to read and understand.