The Blue Mosque, the Ardabil Carpet, and the Taj Mahal all date to this important period.
c. 1517 - 1924 C.E.
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The Safavids, an introduction
Brilliantly painted manuscripts. Exquisitely detailed miniatures. Fine silks. Complex, ornate palaces. The art of the Safavids is simply magnificent.
The Court of Gayumars
Producing this lush miniature involved many Persian artists—and likely some familiarity with Chinese sources.
Arts of the Islamic world: The later period
The Islamic world extended from Spain to Indonesia, where Ottomans, Timurids, Safavids, and Mughals ruled.
Hagia Sophia as a mosque
After the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, the sultan repurposed this church, adding slender “pencil” minarets.
Illustration from the Akbarnama
Under Akbar the Great, the Mughal style of painting blended Indian, Persian, and Western artistic traditions.
Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent from Istanbul
The official seal of the sultan dissolves into a vibrating field of flowers, gold accents, and snaking blue lines.
Coins of faith and power at the British Museum
These tiny pieces of precious metal contain a wealth of information in their Persian and Arabic inscriptions.
Qa’a (The Damascus room)
The sound of the fountain led guests into this 18th-century house, where a vibrant interior stimulated ear and eye.
Mimar Sinan, Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul
This mosque was the crowning achievement of architect Sinan’s career and a trophy of Ottoman imperial grandeur.
Mimar Sinan, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Istanbul
Unlike other of Sinan’s mosques, this one is covered with tiles, sits above shops, and is accessed from a stairway.
Khusraw Discovers Shirin Bathing
Two famous lovers meet in this miniature—as do Persian and European painting traditions.
The Taj Mahal
This huge white-marble mausoleum is recognized the world over for its splendor, symmetry, and stunning gardens.
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