Persian art and architecture had a huge impact on the development of Islamic art and architecture during the peak of the Islamic caliphates from the 7th to 13th centuries. The high point of Islamic architecture started with architectural elements derived from Persian temples and palaces and evolved into unique styles characterized by domes, arches, and intricate geometric patterns.
The Background
The Sassanian Empire that ruled modern day Iran heavily influenced early Islamic architecture with the use of large vaults, arches and domes in palaces like Ctesiphon. Islamic architects adopted and modified these elements by covering them with geometric patterns and arabesque designs based on Quranic verses prohibiting imagery of living beings.
The Idea of Dome
The great mosques built by Umayyad caliphs like the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and Umayyad Mosque of Damascus show the fusion of Byzantine architectural elements with Persian influenced vaults, arches and decoration. The masterpieces of Abbasid architecture like the Great Mosque of Samarra and Taj Mahal continue this blending of Persian and Byzantine styles while developing truly Islamic features.
All Traces Back to Iran
The Seljuq and Persian influenced architecture of mosques in Afghanistan, Turkey and Central Asia reached its peak with buildings like the 12th century Seljuq masterpiece Masjid-e Jāmé of Isfahan created by combining Persian iwan, domes and arabesque decoration with a large interior courtyard.
Same Shapes But Different Patterns
This sophisticated Islamic architecture spread westward and influenced Gothic architecture which first appeared in around 1140 in France. Gothic architecture featured soaring vaults, flying buttresses, pinnacles, spires and pointed arches – all of which have parallels in Islamic architecture. Historians believe Gothic architects were inspired by seeing domed and vaulted Islamic buildings during the Crusades and wanted to create similarly tall, light structures made of stone.
The Conclusion
The influence of Islamic architecture is seen in both the function and form of Gothic cathedrals like Chartres and Notre Dame. The floor plans of Gothic cathedrals with central naves surrounded by side aisles mimic the hypostyle form of early mosques. The pointed arches, ribbed vaults, roof lanterns and pinnacles on external buttresses in Gothic cathedrals also clearly derive from Islamic architecture.
In conclusion, Persian and Islamic architecture originating from the synthesis of Persian, Byzantine and early Islamic styles had a profound influence on the emergence of Gothic architecture in Europe, which reflects the cultural cross-pollination between Europe and the Islamic world during the Middle Ages.
