ART ART AND MATERIAL CULTURE
NMC 392H1 The Taj Mahal and its Origins
Monumental architecture, whether for secular or religious purposes, played a special role in Muslim societies, particularly in major centres such as Isfahan, Samarkand and Delhi. Beginning with the Taj Mahal (1632), the best-known elements of Islamic architecture -- the double dome, the pointed arch, glazed tiles -- are traced retroactively in Iran, Central Asia, and India, and their social context is studied. (Offered in alternate years)
Evaluation: The final grade is based on a mid-term test (20%), a seminar report (15% for oral presentation, 25% for written submission), a take-home essay (30%) and active class participation (10%)
Prerequisite: One full course in Islamic/Near Eastern art and/or material culture
L. Golombek
NMC 393H1 Early Eslamic Art & Architecture
A survey of the arts of the Islamic world from the 7th centure to the Mongol conquest in the mid-13th century.
Prerequisite: One full course in Near Eastern/Islamic art and material culture
K. Ruehrdanz
NMC 394H Persianate Art & Architecture
A continuation of NMC393H1, covering art and material culture in the eastern Islamic lands from the late 13th century CE to the modern period. Workshop sessions with the Royal Ontario Museum collection.
Prerequisite: One full course in Near Eastern/Islamic art and material culture
K. Ruehrdanz
NMC 396Y The Islamic City
It is generally recognized that the city formed the focal point for the development of Islamic civilization. Large metropolitan complexes were in fact typical of mediaeval Islam. Using architectural studies, archaeology, and historical sources as the basis of the inquiry, this course will examine the physical and social morphology of the pre-industrial Islamic city. The approach will be an in-depth study of individual cities, ranging from Central Asia to North Africa and Spain, followed by an attempt to draw some general conclusions about the ecology, demographic characteristics, and processes of urbanization of the Islamic city from the 7th to 17th centuries. This course is appropriate for students of mediaeval and Islamic studies, as well as architecture and urban studies.
E. Keall