Byzantine and Islamic Architecture

 Byzantine and Islamic architecture can be seen as really similar because it is known that they both had that creative design of the mosque. But when looked at closely in detail, you will be able to distinguish a difference between the two. The 2 examples I will be using are the Hagia Sophia and the Dome of the Rock.

Hagia Sophia

 The Hagia Sophia was born from rioters that were trying to overthrow Justinian in the Ancient Islamic Empire. The rioters were angry so they torched the original Hagia Sophia, which was just a church, and built a new Hagia Sophia. One of the writers who lived in the cathedral, Paul the Silentiary, said that after the building was complete, it represented both Justinian and Christianity. The crown of the ginormous done, which was built by Anthemius and Isidore the elder, was 180 feet above the floor. The dome was held up by four strong pillars, which provided the support it needed to sustain the weight. Below the dome, 40 windows are used for lighting to light up the mosaics painted throughout the walls.  The paintings and mosaics are very similar in the Dome of the Rock.

Dome of the Rock

            According to domeoftherock.net, the Dome of the Rock is where Muhammad has believed to ascend from heaven. Unlike the rectangular shape of the dome on the Hagia Sophia, the Dome of the Rock has an octagonal shaped dome. The passage says that 12 marble columns hold it up. At the top of the dome, they’re 16 stained glass windows to illuminate the inside of the building. Throughout the dome they’re many mosaics painted on the walls inside as well as out. It was built in 691 AD. The structure of the dome may look the same as the Hagia Sophia but they are also very different. 

1)   Domes

a  )    Byzantine

i)     Circular with rectangular structure

b  )   Islamic

i)     Circular with octagonal structure and 16 windows at the top

2)   Structural Support

a  )    Byzantine

i)     Held up by four large pillars

b  )   Islamic

i)     Held up by 12 marble columns

3)   Lighting

a  )    Byzantine

i)     40 windows used to light up the mosaics

b  )   Islamic

i)     16 windows used as light at the top of the dome

4)   Decorations

a  )    Byzantine

i)     Mosaics and paintings painted throughout the inside of the building

b  )   Islamic

i)     Mosaics and paintings are inside and out of the building

5)   History

a  )     Byzantine

i)     Was built the first time in 6 years then collapsed and was rebuilt and has been standing for 1,400 years

b  )   Islamic

i)     Was built in 691 AD and is still standing today

Sources

"Britannica School." Britannica School. 2013 Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2013. <http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/53913>.

"ABOUT DOME OF THE ROCK." Dome of the Rock. Dome of the Rock, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2013. <http://www.domeoftherock.net/>.   

 Jeruce, Owens. "Hagia Sophia: Facts, History & Architecture." LiveScience.com. Owens Jeruce, LiveScience Contributor, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. <http://www.livescience.com/27574-hagia-sophia.html>.      

"Dome of the Rock Shrine, Jerusalem." Dome of the Rock Shrine, Jerusalem. Biblewalks.com, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2013. <http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/DomeRock.html>.

Slavery in the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Empire

     
        In the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Empire, slavery was prevalent, as in many other empires before, during, and after these empires fell from their once great heights. In the Codex Justinianus, the collection of Byzantine laws organized by Emperor Justinian, the legality of runaway slaves and what to do with them is outlined. In 2:177-178 and 24:32-33 of the Qu'ran are laying out how slaves are to live in relation to their masters.

Codex Justinianus was the codification of Roman laws. Before the Codex Justinianus was created, Roman laws were often contradictory or out of date. In the Return of Fugitive Slaves & Coloni, [Xl.48.xii.] clause, it states that slaves may not leave their master. A runaway slave may not be hired by anyone to do any jobs. The person must know that they are hiring a free man. If the employer hires a runaway, then the wrath of the law will be set upon said employer, as well as the slave. 

In verse 2:177 of the Qu'ran it is noted that one of the ways to become more righteous in the eyes of Allah is to free one's slaves. In 2:178 it is said that there should be justice for the murder of slaves. Also, the Qu'ran gives permission for men to use their slave girls as a concubine.

1.      Byzantine Empire

a.       Christianity

                                                  i.      Many references in the bible supporting slavery

                                                 ii.      Treatment of slaves, etc.

b.      Laws

                                                 i.      Fugitive slave   

                                   1.      Primary Source

                                                ii.      How the Slave Trade goes

c.       Traditions

                                                  i.      Saw themselves as Roman    

                                   1.      Romans relied heavily on slavery

d.      Geography

                                                   i.      Most cultures (past and present) in that area had slavery

                                                   ii.      Slavs, Africans, and prisoners of war
The Byzantines, like the Romans and other cultures before them, participated in and expanded slavery.

2.      Islamic Empire

a.       Islam

                                                 i.      Refers to slavery a lot

                                   1.      Concubines

                                   2.      Releasing your slaves leads to righteousness

                                                ii.      Muhammad had his own slaves

                                   1.      Four slave girls

b.      Geography

                                                     i.       West-Africa

                               ii.    Western Europeans

                                                  iii.      Prisoners of war

                                                   iv.      People in serious debt

                                      1.      Still occurs today (somewhat)
In the Islamic empire, Muslims practiced slavery and they were backed up by the Qu'ran.

   1. Compare

a.       Religion

                                                    i.      Holy book/teachings justifies slavery

                                                    ii.      Patriarchs both had slaves

1.      Abraham had slaves

a.       Fun fact: his slaves were also circumcised when he made the covenant with G-d

2.      Muhammad had slaves

a.       Four slave girls/concubines

b.      Laws

                                                   i.      Codex Justinianus

1.      Prohibits fugitive slaves

                                                   ii.      Muhammad: No running

1.      “God has forbidden the Paradise to the runaway slave”

c.       Traditions

                                                   i.      There was rampant slavery in Rome

                                                   ii.      Slavery all over the Middle East

d.      Who is enslaved

                                                    i.      Prisoners of war

                                                    ii.      West Africa/Africans

These cultures, in regards to slavery are very similar.

Citations:

Rotman, Youval. Byzantine Slavery and the Mediterranean World. N.p.: n.p., 2009. Print.

"The Qur'an And Slavery." The Qur'an And Slavery. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2013. <http://www.nicheoftruth.org/pages/the_quran_and_slavery.htm>

Novo, Marta Garcia. "Join Academia.edu & Share Your Research with the World."Islamic Law and Slavery in Premodern West Africa. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013. <http://www.academia.edu/1127853/Islamic_law_and_slavery_in_premodern_West_Africa>.

"Islam and Slavery." Islam and Slavery. Barnabus Fund, 2007, Web. 14 Dec. 2013. <http://answering-islam.org/Green/slavery.htm>.

Lilly Fritz's Islam vs. Byzantine Empire Role of Women

Women in the Islamic Empire and Byzantine Empire both had a little more freedom then in other parts of the world during this time. Women were taught to have freedom but still be obedient to men. The Portrait Bust of a Woman with a Scroll is an artifact from the Byzantine Empire that shows women have intelligence. In Eva March Tappan’s translation of a letter about her visit to the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent in 1550, showed how some women in the Islamic Empire lived in luxury.

The Portrait Bust of a Woman with a Scroll was sculpted in a late 4^th century-early 5^th century in the Byzantine Empire. This bust shows a woman in very deep thought. The scroll she is holding represents intelligence. It is thought that the bust was made in Constantinople because of its fragility. It might be a memorial to an important person in the imperial aristocracy. The bust shows that she has pride within her intelligence with her long fingers holding the scroll.

 Eva March Tappan translates in The World's Story: A History of the World in Story, Song, and Art, about a visit to the Wife of Suleiman the Magnificent in 1550. When the visitor entered Sultana Asseki’s home the visitor saw men in beautiful clothing and holding swords. She was led through the home by an old woman in nice clothes and some young girls. She saw beautiful artwork on the walls. The Sultana Asseki had many female slaves. When she reached the Sultana, she saw her being treated by many slaves, some were even fanning her.  The visitor was asked questions about her country and religion. The visitor answered the questions very carefully. After the questions, dancing girls and music were shown. Everything she served me was served on solid gold. When she left, she was escorted about by the same women that led her in.

 1. Byzantine women were very obedient to men and are important behind the scenes.

a.    Byzantine women had important responsibilities to maintain the household.

                                          i.    managing finances

                                        ii.    supervising household affairs

                                       iii.    raising children

b.    Byzantine women had to handle all of the following to have the household running smoothly.

                                          i.    Spinning

                                        ii.    Weaving

                                       iii.    Healing

                                       iv.    Washing clothes

c.    Byzantine women had the same routine they did almost every day.

                                          i.    fetching water, food, and fuel

                                        ii.    cooking

                                       iii.    serving meals

2. Islamic women are obedient to men as well but they have fewer responsibilities than Byzantine women.
1. Duty to men to marry

                                          i.    first wife at age 20

1.    Girl age 12-20

2.    could get 3 more

a.    IF could provide

                                                                                          i.    her own quarters

                                                                                        ii.    her own conveniences for cooking and sleeping

                                                                                       iii.    her own household slaves

2. Islam women had important responsibilities to maintain order in society as well as the household.

                                          i.    bearing and raising children

                                        ii.    providing food and clothes

                                       iii.    instilling religious beliefs

                                       iv.    instilling social values

c.    Islamic women were more important because of their benefits to the start of the Islamic religion.

                                          i.    Muhammad’s first wife was the first follower of Islam

1.    Before Muhammad

                                          ii. Muhammad’s other wives carried on ideas of the Hadith

3.    Byzantine women are more obedient than Islamic women.

a.    Both, Islamic and Byzantium women, were rarely every recorded by men.

                                          i.    During the Abbasid period Islamic women disappeared from the public records

                                        ii.    Byzantium men felt that women were inferior. So they shouldn't be recorded.

b.    Byzantine women were more independent than Islamic women.

                                          i.    Byzantine women held some political positions.

                     ii. Islamic women were known only as religious carriers.

                 c.  Byzantine women and Islam women both have some freedom but are still obedient to men.

Works Cited

•          Tappen, Eva M. "Internet History Sourcebooks." Internet History Sourcebooks. Paul Halsall, Oct. 1998. Web. 17 Dec. 2013. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1550sultanavisit.asp>.
•          "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Portrait Bust of a Woman with a Scroll [Byzantine] (66.25). N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/66.25>.
•          "Women in World History : MODULE 1." Women in World History : MODULE 1. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2013. <http://chnm.gmu.edu/wwh/modules/lesson3/lesson3.php?s=0>.
•          Stewart, Desmond. "Domestic Life." Great Ages of Man: Early Islam. New York: Time Life, 1967. 92-93. Print.
•          Rautman, Marcus Louis. "Society and Economy." Daily Life in the Byzantine Empire. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2006. 26+. Print.