West and Central Asia Timeline

The Dome of the Rock (691-692 C.E.)

691

Also known as the Qubbat al-Sakhra, the building was created of ceramic tile, mosaics, wood, aluminum, and bronze by the Umayyad in Jerusalem, Palestine. The Dome is not a mosque, but the original function remains unknown. The center of the Dome is especially important, as it is where Abraham supposedly prepared to sacrifice his son. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/west-and-central-asia/a/the-dome-of-the-rock-qubbat-al-sakhra

Folio from a Qur'an (late 9th-early 10th century)

900

The folio is ink and gold on parchment, made in Syria, and is a part of Islamic culture. The Qur'an is the Islamic holy text, so the folio has important religious significance. The letters are elongated to match the long pages, while the red and green dots are indicative of vowel marks. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/448369

Basin (Baptistère de St. Louis) (1320-1340 C.E.)

1320

The basin is made of brass inlaid with silver and gold created by the craftsman, Mohammed ibn al-Zain, during the Bahri Mamluk reign in Egypt and Syria. The basin was produced for a ceremony. The outer bands depicts important officials and other images include animals and coats-of-arms. The basin indicates the practice of ceremonial handwashing for purity, emphasizing the importance of religion in the culture. https://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/65/index.html

Bahram Gur Fights the Karg (1330-1340 C.E.)

1330

This book illumination was done with ink, colors, gold, and silver on paper by the Persians. The illustration comes from the book "Great Mongol Shahnama" and depicts the Sasanian king, Bahram, fighting an Indian Karg that was plaguing the Indian countryside. This shows not only the strength of the Persians, but also, their kindness. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/west-and-central-asia/a/bahram-gur-fights-the-karg

The Ardabil Carpet (1539-1540 C.E.)

1539

The Ardabil Carpet, made of silk and wool, from the Persian Safavid Dynasty, probably the work of Maqsud Kashani. Carpets from Iran were highly valued, and carpets frequently decorated the floors of mosques and homes, or were hung up on walls. The name, Ardabil, comes from a Sufi leader who led Islamic mystic practices and founded the Safavid dynasty. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/west-and-central-asia/a/the-ardabil-carpet