The Sacred Spaces of Early Islamic/Umayyad Architecture

Architectural structures within the Middle East, Northern Africa, Europe, and numerous countries in Asia have consistently evolved and become innovative, to create memorable sites for the world to view. Most notably, Islamic architecture is considered the primary form within the regions, with the addition of the subfields: Ottoman, Iranian, and Azerbaijani architectures, while also incorporating European influences, that contributes to the form. While Islamic architecture came to be known in the 7th century when the religion, Islam was created, the “ancestor” towards this type of architecture was Umayyad architecture. Importantly, Umayyad architecture dominated the Middle East, Northen Africa, and Spain, and walked, for Islamic architecture to run. Developed from the use of Roman, Byzantine, and Sassanian Persian styles, Umayyad architecture, also known as Early Islamic architecture, incorporated local traditions, while beginning to adapt Islamic principles and beliefs, from creating large dome structures intended to form a mosque, to incorporating mosaic art. The following exhibition will illustrate a myriad of Umayyad structures throughout numerous regions, and how the development of this form, allowed the creation of Islamic architecture.