B5251 - Archaeology and History of Medieval Islamic Art (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have an advanced knowledge of the main issues in Islamic archaeology and art history, with particular reference to the medieval period in its various components and geographical areas, and to the history of its study. He/she will be able to present them effectively in oral and/or written form, using the appropriate terminology, also with reference to the relevant bibliography. They will have acquired useful skills in contextualising the material culture produced in Muslim territories between the 7th and 15th centuries. They will be able to produce quality content that can be used through the various channels of dissemination and diffusion of science and culture, being aware of the implications inherent in the different means of communication and teaching.

Course contents

The course explores in detail the art and architecture of the Fatimid dynasty (909-1171). After three introductory classes on early Islamic art and architecture, the following meetings will scrutinize the development of Fatimid art, including its impact on Southern Italy and coeval Coptic artistic production.



1) The beginning of Islamic art

2) Figural images in the early Islamic period: objects and texts

3) Hypostile mosques:Ibn Tulun and Qayrawan

4) Outline of Fatimid history

5) The Fatimids in Tunisia: Mahdiyya and Sabra al-Mansuriyya

6) Foundation of Cairo and the first Fatimid phase in Egypt

7) II fatimid phase in Egypt

8) Inscriptions and funerary architecture under the Fatimids

9) Fatimid ivories

10) Fatimid rock crystals

11) Luster ceramic production under the Fatimids

12) Remains of Fatimid figural art and the mosaics in Jerusalem

13) Coptic art and architecture under the Fatimids

14) The Normans and the Fatimids: the Palatine Chapel in Palermo

15) The Normans and the Fatimids: the mantle of Roger the 2nd

Readings/Bibliography

Reading list for those who attend the course:

Jonathan M. Bloom, Islamic Art and Architecture in Fatimid North Africa and Egypt, Yale University Press, 2007, pp. 22-42; 51-70; 72-81;101-105; 109-115; 129-134; 136-146; 149-155; 171-173.

Assadullah Souren Melikian-Chirvani (ed.), The world of the Fatimids, Aga Khan Museum, Hirmer, 2018, pp. 70-94; 95-106; 106-112; 142-155; 178-187; 190-211; 266-277.

Farhad Daftary, Gli Ismailiti, pp. 89-111.

K.A.C. Creswell, The Muslim architecture of Egypt: Vol. 1: Ikhshīds and Fāṭimids: A.D. 939-1171, Oxford University Press, 1978, pp. 227-238; 247-253.

Jennifer Pruitt, Building the Caliphate, pp. 132-151.

Isabelle Dolezalek, "Fashionable Form and Tailor-made Message: Transcultural Approaches to Arabic Script on the Royal Norman Mantle and Alb", pp. 243-268.

 

Reading list for those who do not attend the course:

Farhad Daftary, Gli Ismailiti, pp. 89-111.

Jonathan M. Bloom, Islamic Art and Architecture in Fatimid North Africa and Egypt, Yale University Press, 2007 (vedi le pagine indicate nel programma per i frequentanti).

Assadullah Souren Melikian-Chirvani (ed.), The world of the Fatimids, Aga Khan Museum, Hirmer, 2018 (vedi le pagine indicate nel programma per i frequentanti).

Jennifer Pruitt, Building the Caliphate, pp. 132-151.

Isabelle Dolezalek, "Fashionable Form and Tailor-made Message: Transcultural Approaches to Arabic Script on the Royal Norman Mantle and Alb", pp. 243-268.

K.A.C. Creswell, The Muslim architecture of Egypt: Vol. 1: Ikhshīds and Fāṭimids: A.D. 939-1171, Oxford University Press, 1978, capitoli X, XI, XIII e XV.

Delia Cortese and Simonetta Calderini, Women and the Fatimids in the world of Islam, Edinburgh University Press, 2006, capitolo 5.

Teaching methods

Each seminar is subdivided into two sections. A first part consists of a collective discussion on the theme of the day and a second part consists of a frontal lecture offered by the instructor.

Assessment methods

Exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year:

- March

- May

- July

- September

- November

- January

 

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

The final mark consists of the average between the assessment of the written essay and the assessment of the final oral exam.

The essay consists of a written piece of around 3000 words on a theme decided together with the professor.

With regard to the written essay, students will be evaluated assessing their skills in:

• Structuring the written essay according to the theme;
• Formulating an accurate formal analysis of the object/building focus of the written essay;
• Reviewing the existing literature;
• Outlining the historical and artistic context of the assigned object/building;
• Producing a written essay provided with high-quality images and a consistent and accurate footnoting and bibliography.

The oral exam consists of an analysis of two objects/buildings discussed during the course and shown in slides during the exam and of a question regarding one of the themes discussed during the course.

In the oral exam the student will be assessed according to the:

• Capacity of analysis developed by the student also at the light of the written essay;
• Command of the specific language of the subject;
• Ability in summarizing the most important topics of the subject.

29-30 e lode: a written essay that successfully meets all the above-mentioned five criteria together with the acquisition by the student of an excellent command of the technical language of the subject and an all-around knowledge of the themes discussed during the oral exam.

25-28: a written essay that successfully meets at least four of the above-mentioned criteria together with the use of a rather correct technical language and an accurate exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

21-24: a written essay that successfully meets at least three of the above mentioned criteria together with some inadequacies in the use of the technical language and a superficial exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

18-20: a written essay that meets at least three of the above mentioned criteria together with a patchy and poor exposition of the subject during the oral exam or a written essay that meets less than three among the above mentioned criteria together with a very basic exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

Failure: a written essay that meets less than three among the above mentioned criteria together with a patchy and poor exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

 

Contents of the exam for those students who do not attend the course:

Contents of the exam for those students who do not attend the course:

1) Discussion of an essay (of at least 5000 words) devoted to a topic related to Islamic art.

2) Two questions on Topics related to the history of Fatimid art.

Details:

1) The student selects a theme and sends an outline of the essay together with a preliminary bibliography to the professor by email. Once the theme is approved, the student writes the essay and sends it to the professor at least one week before the date of the exam.

2) to prepare the two questions related to the history of Fatimid art (one on architecture and one on objects) the student is invited to read the bibliography listed in the above section "readings/bibliography"

 

Teaching tools

All seminar presentations and readings will be made available through the e-learning platform (Virtuale).

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Mattia Guidetti