History of Architecture 3

• Islamic architectural features are predominantly present in Arab nations and countries with Muslim-majority populations globally
• Islamic architecture includes geometric patterns, pointed arches, and domes
• Islamic architecture is a distinctive style developed in the 7th century as a representation of Islamic principles
• The mosque is the architectural structure most commonly linked with Islamic architecture
• Islamic architecture spans across both secular and religious edifices, ranging from expansive mosques to more modest fountains and residential buildings
• Architectural elements of Islamic architecture include windows, doors, corridors, and intricate details
• Mecca, also known as Makkah al-Mukarramah, is a city and administrative center of Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia and the holiest city in Islam
• An Imam leads the congregation in prayer in Islamic religion and teaches about the Quran
• A Muezzin sends the proclamation to call for prayers in Islamic religion
• Adhan is the Arabic term for Announcement, traditionally chanted on the top of a minaret by a Muezzin
• Islam spread through military conquest, trade, pilgrimage, and missionaries
• Arab Muslim forces conquered vast territories and built imperial structures over time
• Most significant expansion of Islam occurred during the reign of the Rashidun from 632 to 661 CE
• The caliphate evolved and became more sophisticated during the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates
• Islam spread from the Arabian Peninsula to modern Spain in the west and northern India in the east over a few hundred years
• Islamic ideas and cultures were expressed uniquely as they came into contact with new societies
• Arabs developed their concept of geography through interactions with other nations for commercial, religious, and social purposes
• Commerce and the Ka'ba sanctuary in Mecca gave the city religious influence and power over the Arabs
• Materials used in Islamic period buildings include bricks, chalk, tiles, stone, wood, and glass
• Early building designs and materials in Islamic architecture were dictated by climate, geography, and available resources
• Traditional buildings in the Gulf's cities and villages are designed to maximize shading, reduce thermal gain, regulate building temperature, and enhance air circulation
• Natural materials like limestone and mud regulate building temperatures by absorbing moisture in humid conditions, which later evaporates during hot days for a cooling effect
• Traditional buildings are placed close together with narrow roads and alleyways to minimize sun exposure, limiting heat increases during the day
• Glass is uncommon in traditional buildings, with rooms having small high windows for air circulation and natural light, and larger windows closed by wooden shutters with grooves for airflow and privacy
• Some traditional buildings feature wind towers for natural ventilation and narrow streets covered with light material from date palm trees to avoid direct sunlight, enhancing air circulation
• Islamic architecture originated in the 7th century, known for mosques and influenced by Roman, Byzantine, and Persian architecture
• Distinct elements of Islamic architecture include the minaret, bulbous dome, muqarnas, dome, squinch, pendentives, mihrab, arches, vaults, and cornice
• Islamic architecture features decorative details like geometric mosaics, patterned brickwork, kaleidoscopic stones, and calligraphic adornments
• Notable structures of Islamic architecture include the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and Masjid al-Haram in Saudi Arabia
• Masjid Al Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is the largest mosque in the world and the main site for pilgrims performing Hajj or Umrah
• Masjid Al Haram houses important sites like Kaabah, Maqam e Ibrahim, Zamzam Well, Black Stone (Hajre Aswad), Safa Mount, and Marwah Mount
• Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, or the Prophet's Mosque, in Medina, Saudi Arabia, is one of the world’s oldest and largest mosques, built by Prophet Muhammad in 622 CE
• The Green Dome of the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi holds the tombs of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, Umar, and a reserved grave for Jesus
• Jawatha Mosque, located in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, was the earliest mosque built in east Arabia in the seventh year of hijra (c. 629 AD)
• Al Rajhi Grand Mosque in Riyadh is one of the city’s most important Islamic institutions, with a capacity of 18,000 in the men’s hall and 2,500 in the women’s area
• Al Rajhi Mosque of Hail, with a capacity of 7,000 worshipers, features 56 domes, four 80-meter-high columns, and the largest chandelier in the world at 20 meters in diameter
• Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat and Persepolis are UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iran, showcasing the country's rich architectural history
• Iranian architecture features elements like iwans, extensive use of arches, gardens, fountains, pools, domes, symmetry, muqarnas, calligraphy, and mashrabiya
• Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, a masterpiece of Iranian architecture, was built by Sheikh Bahai in the early 17th century under the order of Shah Abbas the Great
• A madrasa is a learning institution for Muslim or non-Muslim learners, representing any private, public, secular, and religious educational facility