Expansion of the Islamic World

The Islamic Empire in 750 CE

Qubbat As-Sakhrah, قبة الصخرة‎  (aka "Dome of the Rock")
Jerusalem, West Bank

c. 687-692 CE | Umayyad Caliphate

History & Beauty of Qubbat As-Sakhrah

Cross-Section of Quabbat As-Sakhrah Interior

Mosaic Mihrab
Isfahan, Persia (originally)

c. 1354 CE, Sarbedaran Period
Ceramic tile mosaic

Example of a full qibla wall with minbar & mihrab

Mosaic Patterns on Exterior of Qubbat As-Sakhrah

Examples of Islamic Geometric Design for Zellij Tiles

Production of Zellij Tiles

Production of Zellij Tiles

Making Islamic Geometric Designs

Muqarnas Ceiling from Shah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

Quran Page

9th-10th cent CE
Abbasid Caliphate

The Beauty and Skill of the Handwritten Quran

Example of Arabic calligraphy

Symbols & logos using Arabic calligraphy

'Basmala' in simple calligraphy

On Arabic Calligraphy

"Western" Islamic Calligraphy

Umayyad Mosque (aka "Great Mosque of Damascus")
Damascus, Syria

706-715 CE | Umayyad Caliphate

Aerial View of the Umayyad Mosque

Panoramic views of the Umayyad Mosque Courtyard

Example of a Hypostyle Spaces

Interior of a mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Umayyad Mosque Interior

Mosque of Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain

8th-10th centuries CE | Abbasid/Córdoba Caliphate

Expansion of the Mosque of Córdoba over time

Street-level view of the Mosque of Córdoba

Courtyard of the Mosque of Córdoba

Interior of the Mosque of Córdoba

Qibla wall of the Mosque of Córdoba (minbar out of frame)

Mihrab of the Mosque of Córdoba

Gilded dome above the qibla wall

Evidence of cultural shifts inside the Mosque of Córdoba

Baroque chapel installed in the center of the former mosque

Baroque chapel installed in the center of the former mosque