This period, directly following the death of Mohammed, saw the rapid spread of Islam and the development of the central characteristics of the art of Islam.
c. 640 - 900 C.E.
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Samanid plate
Decorated with two rings of Arabic script, this dish highlights the central role of the written word Islamic art.
The founding of Baghdad
Under the Abbasids, Baghdad was the capital of the Islamic world and a center of exchange between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Marwan tiraz
The fragments of the Marwan tiraz once formed a large and impressive cloth that emphasized the import and status of its wearer.
The Indian Ocean World and the Belitung Wreck
The Belitung shipwreck illustrates how interconnected the Indian Ocean World was in the 9th century.
The Qur’an and the development of Arabic scripts between the 7th and 12th centuries
Between the 7th and 12th centuries, Qur’an scripts shifted from being unadorned to becoming a major art form.
Samarra, a palatial city
The Abbasid caliphs spared no expense to build a palatial city of grand buildings and sprawling residential complexes
Arts of the Abbasid Caliphate
From lusterware ceramics to "Kufic" script to the engagement with classical scientific literature, the artistic legacies of the Abbasid caliphate are varied.
The Mosque of Bāb al-Mardūm (the Church of Santa Cruz), Toledo
The Mosque of Bāb al-Mardūm—and its conversion into a church—embodies the multi-religious reality of medieval Spain.
Paintings in the early Islamic world
One of the widespread myths about Islamic art is that images of living creatures are banned.
The Samanid Mausoleum, Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
An elaborate mausoleum was a monument of the Samanid dynasty's new, thriving capital of Bukhara—and was one of the great architectural masterpieces of Central Asia from the early tenth century.
Mosaics in the early Islamic world
Mosaics were highly valued throughout the first few centuries of Islam and were used alongside other precious materials as one element of elite architectural display.
The Umayyads, an introduction
The Dome of the Rock. The Great Mosque in Damascus. The Great Mosque in Córdoba. These remarkable achievements are all Umayyad.
