Essays on Byzantine

Group A. Q1 Christianity and Islam in Spain

The crusades were religious and politically motivated wars that were dominated the 1096-1291 with the aim of controlling the holy land Jerusalem. In the first crusade, (1096-1102) initiated by pope Urban II was aimed at helping the Christian Byzantine empire which had been invaded by the Muslim Seljuk Turks. In this crusade, the Europeans were able to capture Jerusalem in 1099. This led to the merging of various Muslim faction against the Christians forces which had occupied the holy land. However, in 1291, the Muslims were able to control Jerusalem and parts of the coastal areas, which they controlled ...

Cosimo di Giovanni de Medici was given the title Pater Patriae of Italy at his death and was also known as the primus inter pares. He was the founder of the Medici dynasty, who were during the Renaissance the de facto rulers of Florence. Even though Cosimo Medici was a powerful man, he was not an official ruler. Medici’s government also consisted of a council who would many times resist the laws that Medici put forth. This paper will look at the accomplishments of Cosimo di Medici. Cosimo di Medici was born on the 10th of April, 1389 ...

Islamic Architecture in India

The diversity has always been a distinguishing cross-cutting feature of the whole mankind. Consequently, the modern world has always been a multicultural one since the dawn of times and it is absolutely impossible to establish particular borders between the cultures, as such phenomena as cross-cultural communication has existed during the whole timeline. On this point, it is important to mention that the emerging of any culture first of all depends on the location of its carriers. In other words, it strongly depends on the geographical matters. That is why such rapid cultural differentiation appeared, which has manifested, first of ...

http://www.euratlas.com/Atlas/northern_italy/ravenna_san_vitale.html San Vitale is an Early Byzantine centrally planned, octagonal church, used initially as a martyrium for the local martyr Vitalis. It is the most elaborate interlinking of the strands of politics, church, and art in Ravenna in Italy. Ravenna was the seat of Byzantine Italy until the 8th century. The basilica of San Vitale was built as part of the Justinian project to reform the Empire. Justinian’s major aim was the restoration of the former Empire. He inaugurated new programs in the fields of administration, army, justice, and architecture. His ambition was to fill the Empire with ...

Social Module: Venice

1) What is the name of your city, town or village and where did this name come from? Note, there may also be an informal name, that is a name that local people refer to it. You may also discuss any name changes over time and the reasons for these name changes. In that case, if the word Veneti has the Indo-European origin, it means “famous”, but if we consider this word with the pre-Indo origin, it means “foreigners” or “new comers” (nuovi venuti). Perhaps the name of the Veneto is from the word “new comers”. In this case, ...

Physical Module: Venice

I have chosen the city, Venice for this assignment. As I mentioned in the introduction, I have been in Venice previous summer and I want to explore this site in more detail.

Geomorphology and Climatology

1) How did your selected city, town or village’s physical landscape form? i) What are the geological processes that contributed to the formation of your site? ii) What are the climatic processes that contributed to the formation of your site? The place, where Venice is located, is characterized by the transitional climate type between the continental and Mediterranean climate zones. The place of the city is ...

Physical Module: Venice

I have chosen the city, Venice for this assignment. As I mentioned in the introduction, I have been in Venice previous summer and I want to explore this site in more detail.

Geomorphology and Climatology

1) How did your selected city, town or village’s physical landscape form? i) What are the geological processes that contributed to the formation of your site? ii) What are the climatic processes that contributed to the formation of your site? The place, where Venice is located, is characterized by the transitional climate type between the continental and Mediterranean climate zones. The place of the city is ...

The Brooklyn Museum holds an interesting art collection with artworks from the ancient world to the contemporary period. The artifacts originate from regions worldwide. A visitor has the opportunity to see the long-term exhibitions, but also the current ones and touring. The long-term exhibition of European Art is located at the Beaux-Arts Court at the third floor and includes artworks from the period of Early Renaissance to World War II. These include mainly paintings, prints, sculptures in mediums such as marble, bronze, and plaster. This essay aims to present some of the basic painting principles of the Early Renaissance ...

Introduction

The Gero Crucifix and Vladimir Madonna both have contention in portraying religious concepts and a drawing of Jesus. The so-called ‘Gero Crucifix’ ranks as one of the earliest preserved monumental carved crucifixes and the oldest image of the dead Christ on the cross, in contrast to earlier images of the crucified Savior, which presented him alive and glorious over death. The Gero Crucifix was displayed surrounded by golden rays as if visualizing the triumphal second coming of Messiah. In a similar connection, the “Vladimir Madonna” which is often cited as the icon of contemplatives teaches about the human condition ...

Abstract

'Gothic' term represents medieval art that carries a strange history. The style of art developed in Northern France and spread to the rest of Western Europe. Late Gothic art expanded well into the 16th century before getting consumed by the Renaissance art. Gothic period carries splendid examples of sculptures, stained glass, fresco, panel painting, ivories and illuminated manuscripts. The essay offers a perspective on the popularity of Gothic ivories and how they encouraged the devotional practice. The ivory diptychs were used as sophisticated tools and were seen as physical vestiges of the divine. Gothic ivories were the visual cues ...

The First Crusade was organized in 1096 by the decision of Pope Urban II at the request of Byzantine Emperor Alexius I with the aim of helping the Eastern Christians in the defense of Anatolia (Asia Minor) from the onset of the Seljuks. During the campaign, further objective turned out to be the liberation of the holy city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims. Initially, the Pope`s appeal was addressed only to the French knights, but, later, the Crusade turned into a full-scale military campaign, and its idea spread to all the Christian states of ...

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 1999 founded the Jamāʻat al-Tawḥīd wa-al-Jihād which is the present day ISIL. Initially, the organization pledged support to the Al Qaeda and fought alongside them against the Multinational force which invaded Iraq in 2003 (Spark 3). In 2006, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi died and the remnants of his militant organization founded the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). Subsequent leadership who had the ability to keep the group aligned to the ideology of Al Qaeda died in US led attacks (Spark 4). Eventually, the Al Qaeda, in 2014 realized it could no longer keep ...

The Dome of the Rock is the first imperial structure made for Islam and also the second most important Islamic site after Mecca. It was built in the 7th century in Jerusalem by Caliph Abd al-Malik, also known as the Umayyad. As an edifice, the Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but more of a religious shrine. Like Mecca, the Dome of the Rock stands on a sacred stone this is the period of the Islamic culture, which also involves Mohamed. Mohamed was born in the 6th century in Mecca. The Dome of the Rock has its ...

Introduction

The Ottoman Empire was one of the world’s largest empires with history dates back to the Islamic medieval period from the 10th to 11th centuries. The main religion of the Ottoman Empire was Islam and most of their architecture and art was based on the religion as well. The beautiful buildings that exist today were the relics of the old Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was originally founded in 1299 by the tribe who distinguished themselves as Oghus Turks under the rule of King Osman I. Ottoman empire stretched from the mainland Turkey and controlled various countries in ...

Byzantine Art dominated during the reign of Emperor Constantine. The primary characteristic of the Byzantine art is religious. All the images created by the Byzantine artisans strongly links to the existence of religion in their lives. In an era lacking scientific knowledge, any viewer of art will eventually conclude how strong the influence of Christianity on Byzantine art was. For instance, the Byzantine relief titled, Icon with the Koimesis (see fig. 1) which dates back to 900 A.D. tells the story of the death of the Virgin Mary; her death was lamented by the apostles of Christ. The image ...

Comparison Essay on Architectural History of a Building

Introduction The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as‐Sakhrah) is a religious edifice structure built in the7th century that is located in Jerusalem. It was built by Caliph Abd al‐Malik, the Umayyad. This edifice is not a mosque, but may be described as a Muslim shrine. Like the Mecca Ka'ba, the Dome of the Rock is built on a sacred stone. It is widely believed to be the place from which Muhammad the prophet ascended into heaven in the process of his night journey into heaven. The sacred stone over which this edifice is built was long considered ...

Comparison Capital versus Lecture

“The Rabulla Gospels” comprises one of the most beautiful Byzantine works produced in the 6th century (yearn 586). It was written by Rabulla, a monk at St. John Monastery, Syria. It was produced in Asia. The artwork is also significantly alluded to in various art texts because of its clever use of art elements and principles to great effect. For example, the artwork captures the use of balance. The central figure in the upper part of the painting is Jesus, who is surrounded by angels that are arranged equally on either side. Also, the lower part of the painting, ...

The western world looks at the city of Venice to be distinctly oriental. On the surface, the city fits an Italian profile, but it has always mainland an arm’s distance. The essential Moslem culture influenced the architecture of Venice unlike its chief competitors such as Genoa and Pisa. Another stream of thought claims that Byzantine artistic heritage influenced Venetian civilization and, therefore, those characteristics of Islamic architecture. The author of the essay argues on the subject of Islamic influence on the medieval architecture of Venice is indeed a complex and challenging one. The paper focuses on those characteristics ...

Introduction

There are three stages of Roman history including Kingdom that lasted between 753-509BC, Republic that lasted between 509 and 27BC and Empire that lasted between 27BC and 476BC (Dill 103). The Roman Kingdom was founded by Romulus after he murdered Remus his brother. Traditionally, the city had seven kings. It is just one of Italy’s many villages which again is divided among several different language groups. It is one of the cities of Latium area, where Latin is spoken. The Roman Republic was founded in 509 BC after the last king was expelled (103). It was founded on ...

Over the course of the 13th century in Italy, there was a big move towards naturalism in the art, particularly religious art, which attempted to free itself of the conservative, limited scope of Byzantine art into a new realm of realism. This gradual change in art is very indicative of the shift in society itself that Italy was experiencing at the time, as it was slowly but inexorably moving towards the Renaissance. Painters were struggling to express the new attitudes that were being expressed by the people and those in power, which were different from strict religious iconography, opting instead to ...

Introduction

In their publication (Jean Louis & Frederic Hitzel) indicates that a vast pan-Islamic state of the Turks started its expansion in the small Turkish emirate location within the boundaries of the present republic of Turkey. It extended to North Africa, some part of Middle East and southeast Europe. It had also gained temporal authority over secluded overseas lands in the mode declarations paying of allegiance to the Sultan and Caliph. The publication further indicates that the empire was the pivot of interactions connecting the Eastern and the Western world for six centuries. This Ottoman Empire was an Islamic successor to ...