Islamic Art- Sultanate Period Flashcards
How and when did the Islamic religion arrive in India
As a political force in military form in the 10th century: Islam was first introduced in India through the Arab invasion of Sind in CE 712 and through subsequent invasions of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The religion firmly established itself as a force through the Mughal emperors in the sixteenth century.
When and what was the Dehli Sultanate
1206 AD-1526AD
An empire ruled by multiple dynasties directly before the Mughal empire. Both of Muslim sovereigns. Ruled by the Sultan Qutb ud-Din Aibak who established the Delhi Sultanate, and started the Mamluk dynasty.
Historical context of the QTUB COMPLEX
Built by Qtub ud-Din Aibak in the 13th century, and enlarged by the next Delhi Sultans, it was named after a religious Sufi Saint, containing many distinguishable architectural forms of Islam. First major mosque in India, later sultans added persianate inscriptions. Built using a Hindu temples pillars, some believed it was iconoclasm, especially because the faces of idols were scratched out but this is because of the aversion to anthropomorphism or idolatry in Islam. Also it is the duty of a Muslim person on arrival to a new place to immediately build a Mosque.
Key elements of a prayer chamber Mosque
What is the Iron Pillar that never rusts ?
In the Qtub complex, it represents kinship and the special composition of metal alloys used to form it means that it never rusts. Still a mystery as to how exactly that is.
Materials used for Islamic Architecture, which had large significance?
White marble- symbolising purity and paradise, purity being very renowned.
Arches/domes in Islamic culture
A prominent part of Islamic Architecture, because Muslims must build mosques wherever they go Qtub ud Din Aikba did not have the usual resources or workers needed to complete a feat of this kind, and had to use workers who didn’t know about true arches so when he made him in the Qtub complex it was not yet a ‘true arch’. It was a cobel arch. Opposing emperor Aluddin Khiliji (one of the rulers of the Delhi Sultinate) wanted to build a minaret larger than the Qtub complex, instead building the Alwi Darwaza with a true dome.
Tomb of Iltmush
A Sultan who added to the Qtub complex, the first major Islamic tomb in India. It was made using sandstone and white marble both extremely reviered materials and it would set a precedent for future rulers, inspiring many white marble tombs later.
