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Architecture of the Islamic West

North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, 700–1800
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Architecture of the Islamic West presents an authoritative survey of some of the Western world’s most renowned buildings within a millennium of Islamic history. The book explores architectural masterpieces such as the Mosque of Córdoba, the ceiling of the Cappella Palatina in Palermo, the Giralda tower in Seville, and the Alhambra Palace in Granada. Spanning over a thousand years from the 8th to the 19th century, it examines how Islamic architectural style flourished across the southern and western Mediterranean shores, blending new ideas with regional building practices. Through richly illustrated photographs, architectural plans, and historical documents, Jonathan M. Bloom offers a guided tour of Islamic architecture in six countries across North Africa and southern Europe, celebrating Muslim cultural achievement.
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Format: Hardback
$11999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in Arts & Culture, architectural history, Islamic studies, and Mediterranean heritage, including students, scholars, and general enthusiasts seeking an accessible yet scholarly exploration.

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An authoritative survey situating some of the Western world's most renowned buildings within a millennium of Islamic history

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An authoritative survey situating some of the Western world’s most renowned buildings within a millennium of Islamic history.

Some of the most outstanding examples of world architecture, such as the Mosque of Córdoba, the ceiling of the Cappella Palatina in Palermo, the Giralda tower in Seville, and the Alhambra Palace in Granada, belong to the Western Islamic tradition. This architectural style flourished for over a thousand years along the southern and western shores of the Mediterranean—between Tunisia and Spain—from the 8th century through the 19th, blending new ideas with local building practices from across the region.

Jonathan M. Bloom’s Architecture of the Islamic West introduces readers to the full scope of this vibrant tradition, presenting both famous and little-known buildings in six countries in North Africa and southern Europe. It is richly illustrated with photographs, specially commissioned architectural plans, and historical documents. The result is a personally guided tour of Islamic architecture led by one of the finest scholars in the field and a powerful testament to Muslim cultural achievement.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Apollo Magazine praises the volume for affirming the enduring prosperity of Islamic architectural styles around the western and southern Mediterranean. Sarah Slingluff in Al-Masāq describes the book as a perfect introduction for non-specialists and a valuable survey for specialists, highlighting its rich illustrations and compelling content. Lydia Ann Jesudason from Aspectus commends its thorough research and engaging narrative, noting Bloom’s insight into the complex transmission of architectural knowledge across the Islamic West.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300218701

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 23 June 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 281 color + b-w illus.

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 216.0mm

Height: 267.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Jonathan M. Bloom was the Norma Jean Calderwood University Professor of Islamic and Asian Art at Boston College and the Hamad bin Khalifa Endowed Chair of Islamic Art at Virginia Commonwealth University.

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