Books for Beginners:
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Since I often receive requests from individuals asking for recommendations for books on Islamic architecture and art I figured it was finally time I put together a short list. Because I actually consider myself a beginner in these subjects like many of the visitors to this site, the books I'm including are for those that have an interest in these subjects but are not yet experts looking for indepth information. Following are some suggested titles that can be purchased at almost any bookstore including Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
Introductory Books on Islamic Architecture
**Dictionary of Islamic Architecture
author: Andrew Petersen
published: 1996 by Routledge, London
This book is basically what the title describes and doesnt contain an immense amount of information on each of the terms but is great for a quick reference when you aren't sure what a word like muqarnas refers to. Many terms do though have a surprising amount of history and background which is always better than a simple definition.
**The Art and Architecture of Islam 650 -1250
authors: Richard Ettinghausen, Oleg Grabar
published: 1994 Yale University Press, New Haven and London
AND
**The Art and Architecture of Islam 1250 -1800
authors: Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom
published: 1994 Yale University Press, New Haven and London
I place these books together first of all because they are meant to be successive but also because they are both excellent sources of information from well respected authors, and if one is interested in covering the whole period of islamic architecture then both are essential. The first book written by Richard Ettinghausen and Oleg Grabar, considered by many as an expert historian on the Dome of the Rock, includes that monument as well as other significant works up until the thirteenth century. The second written by Blair and Bloom covers the Ikhanids to the Ottomans and includes information on the Taj Mahal, the Suleymaniye Mosque, and the Alhambra just to name a few important structures. This book is larger in size and contains larger images (with many in color) than Grabar's book and can be highly recommended for that alone. Both books also contain a fair amount of coverage of Islamic art.
Introductory Books on Islamic Art
There are two books worth mentioning that are devoted to Islamic Art although since they seem to contain similar information using only one would be sufficient.
**Islamic Art in Context
author: Robert Irwin
published: 1997 Calmann & King Ltd., New York
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