Islam and the Arts of the Ottoman Empire - Education

Islam and the Arts of the Ottoman Empire

Acknowledgments

Packet written and coordinated by Brian Hogarth Director of Education, Asian Art Museum

Section on Islamic Calligraphy written by Stephanie Kao, Program Coordinator, Asian Art Museum

Parts of this packet have been adapted from the writings and lectures of others. These names, as well as other names we wish to thank, include:

Professor Irene Bierman, UCLA Aggie Brenneman, Park Day School, Berkeley

Deborah Clearwaters, Asian Art Museum Alina Collier, Asian Art Museum Bindu Gude, Asian Art Museum

Linda Komaroff, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Professor Johanna Movassat, San Jose State University

Professor Leslie Pierce, UC Berkeley Portland Art Museum, Education Department

Kristina Youso-Connoy, Freelance Editor Tim Stanley, Khalili Collection

Asian Art Museum Education Department

Why Islam? Why the Ottomans?

This packet accompanies the traveling exhibition, Empire of the Sultans, Ottoman art from the Khalili collection. The exhibition offers a glimpse of the artistic legacy of one of the great Islamic empires, the Ottomans. The Ottomans ruled over a vast empire that linked Europe, North Africa and West Asia for six centuries. Their history and art has had a profound influence on modern Europe and The Middle East.

To understand the Ottomans as an Islamic culture, it is necessary to provide some background on Islam and Islamic art in general. Teachers will find a summary of the beliefs of Islam as well as information on the Koran and on mosques. The Khalili collection is especially strong in the arts of the book, and for that reason we have included a section on Islamic calligraphy with related student activities.

The Asian Art Museum?Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture contains a small but important collection of West Asian and Islamic arts, particularly ceramics. A previous packet--The Islamic Arts of Asia--covered some of these objects and provided some background materials on Islamic art. This packet, while concentrating on the Ottomans, includes a number of contextual slides that teachers can use in any lesson on Islamic history and culture.

Points for discussion

Aside from viewing the slides, here are some points to consider with your students:

? How did Islam (as a religion) influence the arts of the Ottomans? ? How did calligraphy assume such an important position in Islamic art? ? Compare the mosque with other forms of religious architecture. List the main parts of a

mosque and describe its decoration ? Describe the role of the (Ottoman) sultans and their life at court ? How did science serve the interests of the Islamic faith? ? What accounts for the expansion of the Ottoman empire in the 1400s?1500s? What was

the role of the military? The government? The sultan as leader? ? What impact did the rise of the Ottoman empire have on Europe?

Other suggestions:

1. Draw a timeline listing some of the Ottoman sultans and events mentioned in this packet; have the students research key dates for two other Islamic dynasties--the Safavids in Iran and the Mughals in India; now list some of the key names in European history during that time and see how they relate in time with the Ottomans

Asian Art Museum Education Department

2. Have the students research words and objects associated with the Ottomans and the Ottoman period such as: ? turkey ? tulip ? ottoman ? divan ? sofa ? tents ? turban ? harem ? coffee ? croissant Discuss the origin of these words, and how their meanings have changed (or not changed) over time.

3. Discuss the role of Islamic carpets in terms of trade and exchange, as a practical household objects and as works of art.

Asian Art Museum Education Department

Introduction to the Islamic world

What is Islam?

Islam is one of the world's major religions. It shares with Judaism and Christianity a belief in a single god. The Arabic name for God is Allah. The word Islam means "surrender (to God)." The followers of Islam are called Muslims, which in Arabic means "one who surrenders to God."

While Islam is mainly associated with the Middle East, its roughly one billion followers are found throughout the world. The largest Islamic communities exist in the nations of Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh. There are also sizeable communities throughout West Africa, India, and in parts of China.

Central to the beliefs of Islam is the idea of one, omnipotent God who transcends class, race, and national differences. All Muslims therefore share a sense of community beyond national or ethnic boundaries. The process of conversion to Islam is fairly simple: one merely has to declare one's faith. There is no need for formal confirmation by a religious authority.

Muslims believe in the word of God contained in the holy book called the Koran (sometimes spelled Qur'an or Kur'an), as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel between 610?623 ce in Arabia. They also follow practices known as the "Five Pillars of Islam."

The Five Pillars of Islam

Central to the Islamic faith are the essential duties and practices known as the Five Pillars of Islam. These are:

? The profession of faith or shahada ? The duty to perform five daily prayers or salat ? The obligation to provide alms or zakat ? Fasting during the month of Ramadan ? Pilgrimage to Mecca

Profession of faith (shahada)

The profession of faith is known as the shahada. It is the prerequisite for membership in the Muslim community, and an affirmation of the faith. Muslims are required to declare this profession in public at least once in their lifetime, but most Muslims recite it daily as part of their prayers.

In Arabic, the shahada is as follows: "Ashhadu al-la ilaha illa-llah was ashhadu anna Muhammadar rasulu-llah" translated as " I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Messenger" or more simply, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His Messenger."

The profession of faith is designed not only for public affirmation, but also to encourage true conviction and sincerity of mind on the part of the worshipper. Seemingly simple, the phrase is absolutely central to the practice of Islam. Muhammad is reported to have said, "These few words are equal to one third of the Koran."

Asian Art Museum Education Department

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