Ty Callahan
Block G
Islam/Byzantine Architecture
12/12/16
Throughout history, religion has been a sensitive topic and the reason for conflict between many civilizations, communities, and people. With each religion comes unique beliefs and differences compared to other religions, and these beliefs can shape many attributes about people's lives. In ancient times, the Christian religion (300-1500 CE) and the Islam religion (600-1500 CE) have influenced the architecture of their civilizations and created many prepossessing buildings, each with unique styles and objects.
The Islamic religion was created by the prophet Muhammad. When he died, it was said by the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan that Muhammad ascended to heaven in the famous islamic temple, Dome of the Rock (Garnaut). These buildings and temples can hold sacred meaning to the people of Islam. Islamic contains domes, circular arches, and mosaics and the Domes of the Rock contains all these styles (Islamic architecture). The Dome of the Rock specifically has 60-foot diameter, timber framed double dome and that is a unique characteristic of the mosque (Garnaut). Many buildings of Islam also have large chambers for praying. Islamic architecture is largely based upon customs and what they see as beautiful.
A largely know church of the Byzantine empire is Hagia Sophia, which was destroyed but then rebuilt by the emperor Justinian. Many styles of Christian architecture and of Hagia Sophia are a basilia, central plan and a circular or polygonal shape of the foundation (Byzantine architecture). A dome was also is almost every building of the empire and showed great advances of architecture. Hagia Sophia was known as a jewel of the Christian religion and stands as a monument to the splendor of the Byzantine empire (Stockdale). Christian churches stood as the opinion others had on the religion, so the churches were built large and luxurious.
Although religions have their conflicts, some have similar beliefs and taste in architecture. But this does not mean that they cannot have their differences. Christianity and Islam both have large domes in their architecture and let their architecture be the base of opinion of many others. But, Islam believed more in having places of prayer and gathering in their temples and mosques. Both religions base the architecture of their civilization differently, but this does not mean they cannot have similarities
Religion can influence a lot about civilizations and this can be shown through the architecture of Islam and Christianity. Each have similarities and differences with the domes and the places of prayer and gathering. Throughout history, religion has been a large factor of culture and beliefs.
Work Cited
Garnaut, Christine. "Dome of the Rock." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO,
2016, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/600846. Accessed 12 Dec. 2016.
Sizgorich, Tom. "Islamic Architecture." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2016,
ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/600825. Accessed 12 Dec. 2016.
Stockdale, Nancy L. "Hagia Sophia." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2016,
ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1037449. Accessed 12 Dec. 2016.
Rautman, Marcus. "Byzantine Churches." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO,
2016, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1510772. Accessed 12 Dec. 2016.
Becraft, Bonnie. "Islam." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO, 2016,
ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/600827. Accessed 12 Dec. 2016.
Galley, Catherine C. and Seaquist, Carl R. "Domes." Encyclopedia of Mathematics & Society. Ed.
Sarah J. Greenwald and Jill E. Thomley. Hackensack: Salem, 2011. n. pag. Salem Online. Web. 12 Dec. 2016. <http://online.salempress.com>.
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Encyclopaedia Britannica. 30 Jan. 2009, www.britannica.com/art/
Byzantine-architecture. Accessed 5 Dec. 2016.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. 4 Feb. 2014, www.britannica.com/topic/
Islamic-architecture. Accessed 5 Dec. 2016.
I like how you included the sacred meaning behind some of the buildings.
ReplyDeleteI learned that the dome structure was included in a lot of high end buildings in the Byzantine Empire.
I would want to know more about the similarities between the two besides the fact of they both include domes in their buildings.
I liked your evidence and facts also your hypothesis is very clear which is good but the conclusion and introduction could be more well framed and better background info.
ReplyDeleteAnnalee
ReplyDelete1. I loved how you not only compared the differences of the two religions, but you also explained their similarities in architecture.
2. I learned that mosques and churches both tend to have domes on the top.
3. I wanted to know more about how the beliefs of the religions impacted their architecture and caused them to build this way.
1. I liked has as well as comparing the differences you showed the similarities
ReplyDelete2. I learned more about the dome and how important it was.
3. i wanted to know more about how religion affected the buildinga