Capitals of Islamic Empires and Centers of Architecture

Istanbul: Capital of the Ottoman Empire

Mehmet the Conqueror

Captured Constantinople in 1453

Changed to Istanbul

Capital of the Ottoman Empire

A plan of the original architecture of Hagia Sophia, the great church

In Constantinople (Istanbul)

This engraving of the Hagia Sophia was made in 1852 by the Fossati brothers, Swiss architects who carried out a major restoration of the mosque's interior.

The müezzin mahfili, used by readers of the Koran during services.

Interior of Hagia Sophia

Southeast Niche in Hagia Sophia

Arabic roundels in wooden plaques added in the 19th century

Suleiman – Ottoman Sultan

Suleiman's Mosque

Topkapi Palace Sultan's Quarters

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace Interior

Topaki Harem Room

Shah ‘Abbas (1588-1629)

Great Safavid monarch

Made Isfahan Safavid capital in 1598

Connected the capital city with the Zayandeh river

Royal buildings located in the center

Surrounded by tree lined avenues

Isfahan, the Safavid Capital:

Shah Abbas Mosque

Safavid Royal Mosque

Exterior Safavid Royal Mosque

Detailed Mosque Mosaics

The Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah

The Mosque is situated in the east of the Maydan with its golden tiled dome. It was constructed for an important shaykh in 1602 and used as the private oratory of the shah and his family

Lutfallah Mosque

Interior of women's Mosque

Founder of ShahJahanabad

Patron of Mughal art and architecture

Responsible for the building of the Taj Mahal

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z218/LilliputStation/ShahJahan.jpg

Shah Jahan the Mughal Emperor

Facade of the Red Fort, Shahjahanabad built under Shah Jahan 1639-48

Jami Mosque, Shahjahanabad built under Shah Jahan 1639-48

The Taj Mahal

Works Cited

http://www.byzantines.net/byzcathculture/images/suleiman.jpghttp://www.gsd.harvard.edu/users/jchen2/Website%20Istanbul%203/images/57.%20Topkapi%20Palace%20Sultan's%20Quarters.jpghttp://www.msu.edu/~thomp600/images/Topkapi%20Palace%20-%20Splendid%20Ceramic%20Tiles_png.jpg

http://www.com.washington.edu/Program/news/digijournalism/islam/media_artarch18.htmlhttp://www.worldtrek.org/odyssey/mideast/041200/gifs/jassaf.gifhttp://www.islamicart.com/library/empires/india/images/shahjahan.gifhttp://www.asiahousegallery.com/miniature2.JPGhttp://sangha.net/messengers/akbar.htm#Images%20of%20Akbar%20thehttp://sangha.net/messengers/akbar.htm#Images%20of%20Akbar%20thehttp://homepages.bw.edu/~wwwhis/lutfallah1602_isfahan.jpghttp://www.friendlyplanet.com/images/fatehpur-sikri-big.jpghttp://www.murraycreek.net/elliottj/travels/highlights/india/04_delhi/10_taj_mahal_postcard_shot.jpghttp://newton.uor.edu/FacultyFolder/rebecca_brown/old/arth100/empire/Mughals/mughcity.html

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia.htmhttp://web.mit.edu/4.614/www/h18.html