Texts & Essays

May 2022 by David Wade

The origins and significance of the decorative arts in Islam

Islam began as a religious movement at a particular time and place in history and went on to become an imperial and then a major cultural force. Although it is really impossible to separate the different aspects of the totality that is Islam, the following notes are an attempt to briefly summarise both the general and particular developments that bear on the subject of this website.

  1. The Historical Setting
  2. The Religious Dimension
  3. The Philosophical & Scientific Contribution
  4. The Evolution of Style
  5. Materials and Mediums
  6. Countries and Regions
  7. Why Geometry? Reflections on the decorative Arts of Islam