Cultural Landmarks of the Middle East

As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam.  It was Islam...that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment.  It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed.  Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. 

President Barak ObamaJune 4, 2009

Mosques with minaretsMosques with minarets

Located throughout western Asia Located throughout western Asia and north Africaand north Africa..

A mosque is a Muslim temple of worship.

A minaret is a tall spire from which a mullah calls the faithful to prayer.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem.Site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.Site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Holy Islamic site where Mohammed journeyed into Holy Islamic site where Mohammed journeyed into

heaven to receive wisdom.heaven to receive wisdom.

Inside the Dome of the Rock Mosque.

Muslims believe that Mohammad ascended to heaven from the rock with the Angel Gabriel.

Jews believe that the same rock was the stone upon which – according to the Bible -- Isaac was bound

when God tested Abraham.

The Western Wall, Jerusalem Remains of the Temple of Solomon in Remains of the Temple of Solomon in

Jerusalem. Jewish holy site.Jerusalem. Jewish holy site.

The Western Wall, Jerusalem

Jews praying in front of the Western Wall.

The Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, Turkey A huge cathedral. Later used as a mosque. A huge cathedral. Later used as a mosque.

Now a museum.Now a museum.

The Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, Turkey Pronounced: “Hi ya Sofia.”Pronounced: “Hi ya Sofia.”

“Hagia Sofia” means Holy Wisdom.

The Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, Turkey

• Construction began in A.D. 532.

• It was the largest cathedral in the world until A.D. 1520.

• Famous for its massive dome.

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.Possible site of the birth of Jesus.

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

• A sacred stone building located in the Main Mosque in A sacred stone building located in the Main Mosque in Mecca.Mecca.

• It is the holiest site in Islam.It is the holiest site in Islam.

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

A temple that – according to the Koran – was built by A temple that – according to the Koran – was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael as place for monotheistic Abraham and his son Ishmael as place for monotheistic worship.worship.

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Inside the Kaaba,

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi ArabiaWhen Mohammad conquered Mecca he destroyed idols near When Mohammad conquered Mecca he destroyed idols near the Kaaba and then entered the building and ordered all the Kaaba and then entered the building and ordered all pictures to be destroyed.pictures to be destroyed.

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia• Muslims face toward Mecca and the Kaaba when they pray.Muslims face toward Mecca and the Kaaba when they pray.

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Pyramids in EgyptTombs/monuments for the Pharaohs.Tombs/monuments for the Pharaohs.

Pyramids in Egypt• Construction of pyramids in Egypt began about 2,630 B.C.

• There are over 200.

• The Great Pyramid in Giza is 478 feet tall. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,200 years.

• All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile River. Ancient Egyptians associated the setting sun with the realm of the dead.

Pyramids in EgyptTombs/monuments for the Pharaohs.Tombs/monuments for the Pharaohs.

Bazaars (suqs)Bazaars (suqs)Large markets, often with hundreds of vendors.Large markets, often with hundreds of vendors.

Located throughout the Arab world.Located throughout the Arab world.

Bazaars (suqs)Bazaars (suqs)

The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

Bazaars (suqs)Bazaars (suqs)

The suq in Aleppo, Syria

Bazaars (suqs)Bazaars (suqs)

An open-air suq in Morocco. Suqs are a traditional market in SW Asia and North Africa.

Oil rigs

• Oil rigs can be found throughout the Middle East.

• Oil is the most abundant and valuable resource in the region.

Oil rigs

Oil rigs

Saudi money pictures an oil rig.

Used by Muslims to kneel and face Mecca when they pray five times a day.

Prayer rugsPrayer rugs

Prayer rugsPrayer rugs

“There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is His Prophet.”

Prayer rugsPrayer rugs

Islamic Calligraphy Islamic Calligraphy TheThe art of writingart of writing.

Islamic Calligraphy Islamic Calligraphy

TheThe art of writingart of writing.

Calligraphy was the primary means for

preserving the Koran.

A page from a 12th Century Koran.

Islamic Calligraphy Islamic Calligraphy

A mother of pearl plaque.

Islamic Calligraphy Islamic Calligraphy

Examples of Religious themed diverse art.

Stained Glass: King David-Jerusalem.

A Byzantine mosaicmosaic (the art of decoration the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or with small pieces of colored glass, stone or

other materialother material) -Istanbul Turkey.

Muslim architecture is Muslim architecture is detailed and detailed and symmetricalsymmetrical (everything is (everything is balancedbalanced))

• Language: Arab world – Arabic – Arab world – Arabic – largest of the Semitic languages in this largest of the Semitic languages in this area.area.