Byzantine Silver Plate (629-630 A.D)

                                                         Islamic Conquest Art (651 A.D)

• ·      Both these pieces of art found from both the Byzantine and Islamic cultures from the 600s tell stories within themselves. They both tell stories relating to religion and heritage. Both these significant pieces of art have much to tell within the everyday life of these empires then and now.

o   The piece of art from the Byzantine Empire is a silver plate; it is showing a significant scene with King David from the Old Testament. It is showing him in battle as well as him being honored. This piece of art shows the religious beliefs of the Byzantine people. Most of the people believed in Christianity and this were the reasons this plate was very important to the Byzantine culture.

o   The piece of art from the Early Islamic Empire is a painting; it is a painting of the prophet of Muhammad and his heavenly journey to the immediate presence of God. This painting reveals the Muslim culture very well. It shows a family watching from below and it shows how their religion makes affects on their everyday lives. The interesting part to this painting is that Muhammad’s face is revealed, and in most Muslim paintings Muhammad is wearing a veil to cover his face. This painting reveals how the Muslim culture and religion works and what the people of the Islamic empire thought of their culture and religion.

• ·      Both the Byzantine silver plate and the Islamic painting both show their different cultures and religions. The Byzantine silver plate shows how Christianity played a major roll in their lives. In the Islamic painting it showed how the Muslim culture and the Muslim religion played a major roll in their lives as well. All together religion and culture were major themes in each piece of art and they also showed how the basic life styles were in both empires.

. N.p.. Web. 18 Dec 2013.< http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/17.190.396>

. N.p.. Web. 18 Dec 2013.< http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1974.294.2>

Islamic and Byzantine Clothing by Class Structure

In todays world, people have the ability to be able to wear whatever they want without getting judged by it. When you see a man with a brief case and a tuxedo, you can assume that he is a wealthy man but you can't be sure. When you see a man with a raggedy shirt, dirty pants, and no shoes, you can assume that he is not very wealthy. Our life today revolves around what people wear. People have their own trends of clothes that they wear, but what they wear usually has a lot to do with how wealthy they are. This is similar to how people in the Islamic Empire and the Byzantine Empire incorporated their clothing with their wealth.

Emperor Justinian and his consequences. Emperor Justinian wore a long, tight, robe like clothing that was mostly worn over the tunic, this robe was held together by a belt.
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01181/Byzantine%20costume.pdf

The dress in the Islamic Empire is simple, a tunic. The women wore a hat-like type kilt on their head. The islamic dress could show if the person was a believer or a nonbeliever. The dress is meant to not reveal any curves or figures of the woman body. These dresses could show your role or social structure in society. Dresses showed cleanliness and it showed respect to the islamic dress code.
http://char.txa.cornell.edu/islamicclothes.htm










Clothing in the Islamic Empire and Byzantine Empire both showed class structure. In the Byzantine Empire, the most common type of clothing was the tunic. For the tunic, stripes and cuffs were sewed on for decoration. Having a belt on with your tunic back in the Byzantine Empire showed wealth, most belts were put on in the winter if people had them. The basic tunic was worn by a lot of mid-class people. The belt was cinched by a buckle, it really showed a courtly rank if you had a belt. In the Islamic Empire, everyone who wore either a tall hat, or a robe, or long sleeve button down showed peoples wealth. If you had any of those, you were ranked in the upper class. The nice, elegant clothes were imported from Iraq, and Baghdad. Sleeves showed your ranking in the classes, if you had long sleeves you were very wealthy. Having long sleeves kept you warm in the winter and could keep you away from the sun in the summer and getting sunburnt. Both the Islamic Empire and the Byzantium Empire had pride in their clothing, the people with the nicest, most elegant clothes were ranked highly in the social class.

• Jirousek, Charlotte. N.p.. Web. 19 Dec 2013. <http://char.txa.cornell.edu/islamicclothes.htm>.     
• Vukson, D.. N.p.. Web. 19 Dec 2013. <http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01181/Byzantine costume.pdf>.

Islamic Civilizations and Byzantine Empire Primary Source Argume

How do religion and art come together to make aspects of illustration symbolic? The Byzantine and Islamic civilization reflects upon one main topic of religion, which both civilizations reflect their religion upon art. Art and religion join together to symbolize about their culture and different aspects of  their illustration of religion.

Helmet

The Islamic civilization symbolized their religion in many different ways. Their culture was exemplified in the primary source. This image is from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and is called  “Helmet”. This turban-shaped helmet is especially special, because of its  exquisite marks that were used in the Ottoman  armory . This shows that this helmet has been passed into the Turkish  possession from the Ottoman victory of Iran and Caucasus. The ruler of Shivran in the Caucasus, Farrukh-Siar, has a helmet decorated in this alike style. This is known by the Museum’s helmet is also in the rule, Shivran’s manufacture. This showed calligraphy in not only one way but others. The Muslims could not draw pictures of people, which was hard to not express their religion. By this source they have armory but they do not express anything about their god or leader on the helmet. Islam started off as a spiritual act, but then ended up as a cultural move.  Islamic art was not only just art, but it was made up of the “Muslim faith”. This consisted of architecture of the land, not just a religion way of life. In my primary source I found that Muslim’s do not draw people on their drawings because they are not allowed too. Although, they find ways to work around that.This plays a role in religion, because how do they express their praise to their god Allah.Even though they do not draw people they like drawing the geometric shapes for their mosaics. In the Mosques, which are the religious temples, they do show shapes and different symmetry as well. Muslims express their religion in a different way then the Byzantine people.

Icon with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple

The Byzantine civilization showed their religion in more ways than one. In my primary source it is visible that people are drawn in. This shows that religion is expressing in art rather than in the Islamic culture they do not show their gods or any faces. This image is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is called Icon with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. The icons composed on wood, which wood was a foundation of religious expression in the time of the Byzantines. This was recognized by a Greek engraving of “the Purification”. This icon illustrates the Virgin introducing the Christ Child to Simeon for traditional ceremony of the freeing at the temple. Like Simeon, the seer Anna noticed the adolescent’s sanctity. This was shown by the Greek inscription on the scroll that said, “This child created Heaven and Earth.”This shows that people were allowed to be incorporated in the art.The Byzantine civilization was very culturistic and symbolic civilization of their culture and religious devotions. They show their religion of their gods with pictures. Art symbolizes religion in many different ways in this civilization. They translate church beliefs into artistic statements. They show church beliefs as in the primary source they illustrated how there was a “purification at the temple”. Western art is show in many different ways in the Byzantine culture by architecture, paintings, and other visual arts. Later on this was a result of style and a spiritual way of illustrating barely corresponding to Western Art. Byzantine civilization expressed their art and religion together freely rather than the Muslims having to sequester their devotion.

The two different civilization show religion by actual visualizing it in their art, but then trying to get around there regulations of expressing it. In every civilization in different periods of time, show their devotion towards their culture and religion in their expressions. Even though the Byzantine and Islamic don’t express religion from their art in the same way they do express other themes alike.All over the world different culture symbolize their religions in distinct ways.

1. Introduction

Question

1. How do religion and art come together to make aspects symbolic?

Topic

2. The Byzantine and Islamic civilization reflects upon one main topic of religion, which both civilizations reflect their religion upon art.

Thesis Statement

3. Art and religion join together to symbolize about their culture and different aspects of  their illustration of religion.
3. 1st Body Paragraph

This symbolizes the way the Islamics culture was exemplified in the primary source.

1. This image is from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and is called  “Helmet”. This turban-shaped helmet is especially special, because of its  exquisite marks that were used in the Ottoman  armory . This shows that this helmet has been passed into the Turkish  possession from the Ottoman victory of Iran and Caucasus. The ruler of Shivran in the Caucasus, Farrukh-Siar, has a helmet decorated in this alike style. This is known by the Museum’s helmet is also in the rule, Shivran’s manufacture.
2. This showed calligraphy in not only one way but others.
1. The Muslims could not draw pictures of people, which was hard to not express their religion.
2. By this source they have armory but they do not express anything about their god or leader on the helmet.

Islam started off as a spiritual act, but then ended up as a cultural move.

Islamic art was not only just art, but it was made up of the “Muslim faith”.

3. This consisted of architecture of the land
4. Not just a religion way of life

In my primary source I found that Muslim’s do not draw people on their drawings because they are not allowed too.

5. Although, they find ways to work around that.
6. This plays a role in religion, because how do they express their praise to their god Allah.

Even though they do not draw people they like drawing the geometric shapes for their mosaics.

7. In the Mosques, which are the religious temples, they do show shapes and different symmetry as well.

Muslims express their religion in a different way then the Byzantine people.

3. 2nd Body Paragraph

In my primary source it is visible that people are drawn in.

1. This shows that religion is expressing in art rather than in the Islamic culture they do not show their gods or any faces.
2. This image is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is called Icon with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. The icons composed on wood, which wood was a foundation of religious expression in the time of the Byzantines. This was recognized by a Greek engraving of “the Purification”. This icon illustrates the Virgin introducing the Christ Child to Simeon for traditional ceremony of the freeing at the temple. Like Simeon, the seer Anna noticed the adolescent’s sanctity. This was shown by the Greek inscription on the scroll that said, “This child created Heaven and Earth.”
1. This shows that people were allowed to be incorporated in the art.

The Byzantine civilization was very culturistic and symbolic civilization of their culture and religious devotions.

3. They show their religion of their gods with pictures.
4. Art symbolizes religion in many different ways in this civilization.
1. They translate church beliefs into artistic statements.
2. They show church beliefs as in the primary source they illustrated how there was a “purification at the temple”.
5. Western art is show in many different ways in the Byzantine culture by architecture, paintings, and other visual arts.
1. Later on this was a result of style and a spiritual way of illustrating barely corresponding to Western Art.

Byzantine civilization expressed their art and religion together freely rather than the Muslims having to sequester their devotion.

4. Conclusion

The two different civilization show religion by actual visualizing it in their art, but then trying to get around there regulations of expressing it.

In every civilization in different periods of time, show their devotion towards their culture and religion in their expressions.

Even though the Byzantine and Islamic don’t express religion from their art in the same way they do express other themes alike.

All over the world different culture symbolize their religions in distinct ways.

Work Cited

"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." The Nature of Islamic Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-2013. Web. 18 Dec. 2013. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/orna/hd_orna.htm

"Introduction to Islamic Art." BBC News. BBC, 2013. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/art/art_1.shtm

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Byzantine Art." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/87136/Byzantine-art>

Bliss, Lillie P. Icon with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Digital image. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 2000. Web. 18 Dec. 2013. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/50.87>.

Rogers. Helmet. Digital image. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 2000. Web. 18 Dec. 2013. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/50.87>.

Amin Nasseri

The Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Civilization

12/19/13

I pledge: A.N.

       Introductory paragraph
        
         Literature is the most important factor of both the Islamic Civilization and the Byzantine Empire culture. In the Islamic culture the "Qur'an" is studied and followed by Muslims, followers of Islam, on a daily basis. While in the Byzantine culture they follow the "The Code of Justinian", most properly known in modern day by Corpus Juris Civilis  ("Body of Civil Law"). Which the followers of the Byzantine culture have to follow certain rules and regulations. Overall the Islamic culture of literature has expanded and succeeded more than the Byzantine culture.
 

Primary source of Byzantine literature " The Code of Justinian"

• Justinian and Theodora
  • [Tierney 22.2] Procopius: On Justinian. , from Secret History. The full text of the Secret Historyis also available.
• Government
  • Procopius: On the Racing Factions, from On the Wars .
  • Procopius: Procopius: On the Nika Revolt, from The Wars.
  • Theophanes: On the Racing Factions, from ths Chronicle. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Theophanes
• Society and Economy
  • Procopius: The Roman Silk Industry, c. 550, from On the Wars
  • Procopius: The Plague, 542, History of the Wars, II.xxii-xxxiii:
• Church Policy
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
    Justinian's "dialogue" with a Nestorian.
• Wars
  • Procopius: The Reconquest of Africa, 534, from On the Wars IV:9.
    A description of Belisarius' triumph, with Gelimer, King of the Vandal's in tow.
• Buildings
  • [Tierney 22.1] Procopius: Justinian, from Buildings.
  • Procopius: Description of Hagia Sophia from De Aedificiis. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Byzantine Architecture
  • Paul the Silentiary: Description of Hagia Sophia fromDescriptio S. Sophiae
    • [Tierney 12] Corpus Iuris Civilis [selections]
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, 535, very extensive selections, in English.
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, Books 1-IV, [in Latin][At The Latin Library]
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Digest: D. 1.1.1 Ulp 1 inst. [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Roman Law Texts [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
      A selection of medium length excerpts from, among others, the Corpus Iuris Civilis
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: The Digest and Codex on Marriage
    • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Return of Fugitive Slaves & Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xii.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Application of Patria Potestas to the Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xiii]
    • Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freemen and Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxii.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Coloni Bound to the Soil, c. 530 [Xl.51.i]
    • Codex Justinianus: Violation of the Thracian Land Law, c. 530 [XI.52.i.]
    • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 137: Regulating Church Ritual.
    • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel 141, [544 CE], [At PWH]
      Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality.
    • Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novella 146: On Jews

Paraphrasing

“            The Code of Justinian”, most properly known today by Corpus Juris Civilis ("Body of Civil Law"), is a roman civil law that is collected and organized by the order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian . These are rules that are justified by the Christians and they must be followed. There are four parts to the Code of Justinian. They four parts are  "The code",contained nearly 5,000 Roman law ,"Digest", summarized the opinions of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers about the laws,"Institutes", a textbook that told the law students how to use the law, "Novellae", a presented legislation.

Link: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1c.asp

Primary source of Islamic literature “The Qur'an”

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds,

The most Gracious, Most Merciful,

Master of the Day of Judgement.

Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.

Show us the straight way.

The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

qur'an - 1:1-7 - al fatihah - the prologue

Link: http://www.worldprayers.org/archive/prayers/adorations/in_the_name_of_god.html

Paraphrase
        According to the qur’an -1:1-7 al fatihah – the prologue, this is the first preceded verse that is recited in the beginning of each subsequent sura of the Qur'an, the holy book for the muslims, except for the ninth sura. In Arabic bismillah he rahman a rahem is said. Which means “in the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.” This is a praise said to god that means there is no one higher than Allah and he is the most greatest and most powerful. This praise also talks about worshiping only Allah and no else and “The Day of Judgement”.“The Day of Judgement” is the day where Allah will test the believers of Islam.The Arabic word “Quran” means “the Recitations” or “the Revelations.”The Qur'an was believed to be received by Prophet Muhammad S.A.W in 610 when he was about 40 years old.

Outline

1)     1st paragraph (introductory)

i)        Despite the differences in Islam culture and Byzantine culture the Islamic Civilization in literature has improved massively compared to the Byzantine Empire.

2)      1^st body paragraph: The Qur’an

i)         Studied by Muslims

(1)    Used to follow the right steps to go to Heaven

(2)    Followed on a daily basis

(3)    Recited to talk to Allah

(4)    Made up of many suras, verses

3)      2^nd body paragraph: The Code of Justinian

i)        Studied by Christians

(1)    Used to follow the rules and regulations

(2)    Recited for the empire, Justinian

ii)      Four Parts

(1)    The code

(a)    Contained nearly 5,000 Roman laws

(2)    Digest

(a)    Summarized the opinions  of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers about the laws

(3)    Institutes

(a)    Was a textbook that told the law students how to use the laws

(4)    Novellae

(a)    Presented legislation

4)      Conclusion

i)        In Islam religion is taken more seriously than the Byzantine, because there are rules that were followed on a daily basis and you were praying and worshiping Allah. The Byzantine had rules in general but they weren't followed on a daily basis.They were rules that were there to help the Byzantine culture. 

MLA sources

1. "The Qur'an and Qur'anic Interpretation (tafsir)." The Qur'an and Qur'anic Interpretation (tafsir). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
2. "Basmala." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
3. PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
4. "Corpus Juris Civilis." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 June 2013. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
5. "Internet History Sourcebooks." Internet History Sourcebooks. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.