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Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Islamic world encompasses a wide geographic area historically ranging from western Africa and Europe to eastern Asia.
Islamic architecture, building traditions of Muslim populations of the Middle East and elsewhere from the 7th century on. Islamic architecture finds its highest expression in religious buildings such as the mosque and madrasah. Early Islamic religious architecture, exemplified by Jerusalem’s Dome.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Overview
- Taj Mahal
- The Alhambra
- The Friday Mosque, Esfahan
- The Dome of the Rock
- Great Mosque of Samarra
- The Citadel of Aleppo
- Great Mosque of Córdoba
- Suleymaniye Mosque complex, Istanbul
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The architectural heritage of the Islamic world is staggeringly rich. Here’s a list of a few of the most iconic mosques, palaces, tombs, and fortresses.
In 1631 Mumtaz Mahal, the third and favorite wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–58), died while giving birth to the couple’s fourteenth child. Devastated, the emperor commissioned the Taj Mahal, a massive mausoleum complex on the southern bank of the Yamuna (Jumna) River that ultimately took more than 20 years to complete. Today th...
On a hill overlooking the Spanish city of Granada stands the Alhambra, a palace built by princes belonging to the Muslim Nasrid dynasty (1238–1492) in the 14th century. Although some portions of the palace have been demolished, three parts remain: a fortress (Alcazaba, or al-Qasbah) on the west end of the hill, a princely residence to the east, and...
Located at the center of Esfahan—a city full of architectural treasures—is the sprawling Friday Mosque. A mosque has stood on the site since the 8th century, but the oldest elements of the current structure are two domes built during the Seljuk dynasty, which ruled parts of Iran in the 11th century. In the early 12th century the mosque was rebuilt ...
The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is the oldest extant Islamic monument and one of the best-known. Built in 691–692, about 55 years after the Arab conquest of Jerusalem, the design and ornamentation are rooted in the Byzantine architectural tradition but also display traits that would later come to be associated with a distinctly Islamic architectu...
When the Great Mosque of Samarra (in Iraq) was built by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil (reigned 847–861) around 850, it was probably the largest mosque in the world, with a total area of nearly 42 acres. The mosque was built out of baked brick, with an interior decorated with blue glass. Most of the structure was destroyed during the Mongol invas...
Some of the most impressive works of architecture in the Middle East are the medieval fortresses in cities such as Cairo, Damascus, and Irbil. One of the best remaining examples of Islamic military architecture is the citadel that stands on the top of a hill in the middle of the Syrian city of Aleppo. Archeologists have found fortifications on the ...
The earliest parts of the Great Mosque of Córdoba, Spain, were built on the site of a Christian church by the Umayyad ruler Abd al-Rahman I in 784–786. The structure underwent several enlargements in the 9th and 10th centuries. During one of these enlargements a richly decorated mihrab (a niche in a mosque pointing in the direction of Mecca) set be...
Some of the most prominent features of the Istanbul skyline are the towering dome and minarets of the Suleymaniye Mosque complex, which stands on an artificial platform overlooking the Bosporus. Built by the Ottoman emperor Suleyman the Magnificent between 1550 and 1557 at the height of the Ottoman Empire’s power, it is the largest and arguably the...
Explore the rich and diverse heritage of Islamic architecture through eight iconic monuments, from the Taj Mahal to the Dome of the Rock. Learn about their history, design, and significance in this article by Britannica.
- Noah Tesch
Feb 26, 2024 · Learn about the origins, features, and principles of Islamic architecture, a style that reflects the Islamic faith and culture. Explore famous examples from around the world, such as the Dome of the Rock, the Taj Mahal, and the Alhambra.
- Kristin Hohenadel
Feb 10, 2023 · Learn about the origins, influences, and features of Islamic architecture, from the first mosque in Medina to the Umayyad palaces and monuments. Explore the diverse styles and regions of Muslim architecture across the world, from Spain to Southeast Asia.
May 19, 2024 · Learn about the origins, features, and styles of Islamic architecture, a centuries-old building tradition based on Islamic principles. Explore the examples of mosques, madrasas, and pilgrimage places that showcase the distinctive elements of Islamic architecture.
Learn about the distinctive and dazzling features of Islamic architecture, such as minarets, domes, muqarnas, mihrabs, arches and decorative details. Explore the history and geography of this celebrated building tradition across the Muslim world and beyond.
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