JMU Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, PERS/FL 490, Mahyar Hadighi  

A R C H I T E C T U R E A N D T H E I S L A M I C W O R L D J a m e s M a d i s o n U n i v e r s i t y , P E R S / F L 4 9 0 , F a l l 2 0 1 3 , 3 c r e d i t s

Instructor: Mahyar Hadighi, hadighmx@jmu.edu, Course Meeting Time: Thursdays 2- 4:50 pm Office hours: Thursdays 1-2 pm or after weekly class meeting time by appointment, Office location: Keezel Hall, room B7

The Royal Mosque (Masjid-e Shah) of Isfahan: Shabestan (left), and interior of the main dome (right). We will investigate possible definitions of Islamic architecture throughout the semester. In order to initiate the topic, we will explore the question of what constitutes Islamic Architecture? By Islamic Architecture,

- do we mean the architecture produced for and by Muslims to serve Islam as a religion? This definition refers only to architecture with religious function, such as mosque, tomb, madrasa (religious school). Then, what about other significant buildings of the Islamic world, such as caravanserais, markets (bazars), and gardens?

- or do we mean all the architecture produced in Muslim lands? If this is so, what does the “Islamic” adjective do?

This course is organized to bring about an understanding of Islamic culture through the eye of a specific kind of architecture, which is not only religious architecture, but architecture that is related to the religion of Islam. It is also not just architecture, but history and culture as well. Students will be introduced to the historical context and culture before learning about the architectural monuments.

The lectures are designed thematically instead of chronologically, allowing students to become familiar with concepts of Islamic art and architecture as well as its culture, tied together through the themes.