4.614 | Fall 2002 | Undergraduate

Religious Architecture and Islamic Cultures

Course Description

This course introduces the history of Islamic cultures through their most vibrant material signs: the religious architecture that spans fourteen centuries and three continents — Asia, Africa, and Europe. The course presents Islamic architecture both as a historical tradition and as a cultural catalyst that influenced …
This course introduces the history of Islamic cultures through their most vibrant material signs: the religious architecture that spans fourteen centuries and three continents — Asia, Africa, and Europe. The course presents Islamic architecture both as a historical tradition and as a cultural catalyst that influenced and was influenced by the civilizations with which it came in contact.
Learning Resource Types
Course Introduction
Image Gallery
Photo of a Minaret.
An example of a minaret: a tower, circular, octagonal, or square in section, built next to or in a mosque, from which the Muslims are called to prayer. (Image by Nasser Rabbat.)