Islamic and Roman Art: History, Characteristics, and Influence

Islamic Art: An Overview

ISLAM: Islamic art flourished within diverse contexts, from settled communities to nomadic cultures. Islam originated in Arabia in 622 AD when Muhammad fled to Medina from Mecca. The religion's central text is the Koran.

Within a century, Islam and its culture spread through military conquests, reaching from India to Spain, establishing a relatively homogeneous culture. Key contributions include advancements in business, science, philosophy, agriculture, and urban development.

Urban Planning and Architecture

Urban life, characterized by narrow streets, centered around key areas: corners (groupings of buildings, shops, workshops, and markets), bathhouses, residences, palaces, madrassas (Koranic schools), and mosques (prayer spaces). Islamic architecture demonstrated significant synthesis and development, adapting elements from other architectural traditions.

Artistic Expression

Due to religious considerations, sculptures were limited, primarily featuring animals like dogs and lions. Other forms of artistic expression included pottery, clay vessels, glazed dishes, mosaics, textiles (carpets), miniatures, and ivory boxes.

Roman Art: An Overview

Roman: Romanesque art was the first international art movement in Western Europe during the Medieval period. Emerging alongside Christianity, it flourished from the 10th to the 12th centuries, before being superseded by Gothic art in the 13th century. It was influenced by Byzantine and Muslim art. The name 'Romanesque' derives from its reliance on Roman forms and techniques.

This period coincided with the height of feudalism, a hierarchical social structure dominated by the Church and characterized by theocentrism. The clergy held significant economic power and were the primary patrons of art, which served a didactic purpose for an illiterate population. Romanesque art was feudal and monastic, intended for religious teaching rather than aesthetic appreciation, making it utilitarian and relatively simple, yet elitist.