Islamic Art and Architecture; Influence and Effects Essay Example for Free

Islamic Art and Architecture; Influence and Effects Essay Introduction During the reign of the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughal rulers, architecture and art took on more meaning than it had in the past. The types of architecture and manuscript writing have had both symbolic significance and influence on the people of these empires. The architecture can be said to have had the greatest impact on the presence of power and devotion to Islamic arts of all of the empires, while manuscripts were held privately until trends influenced their spread over greater distances and people. The Ottomans, in their quest to expand their lands and influence, conquered Constantinople in 1453, which sparked a major period of construction in the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. This large building initiative took place in order to encourage a repopulating of Istanbul, as well as the revitalization of the economy in this declining city. The buildings and complexes the Ottomans built shed an interesting light on their concerns and ideals. For example, while the complexes were mainly built as places of worship, they took on other roles, such as, centers for education, commerce, and hospital care. One complex is clear in its intentions to the public, as can be seen by the endowment deed, which read â€Å" to elevate matters of religion and religious sciences in order to strengthen the mechanisms of worldly sovereignty and to reach happiness in the afterworld†, (Bloom Blair, 298). This combination of buildings in a complex format drew people from the old capital and cities of the empire, and generated revenue that amassed into fortunes for the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, however, were not the only empire to enjoy great wealth and displays of that wealth. The Mughals, who descended from the same Turkish conquerors as the Ottomans, also enjoyed prosperity from great building projects. The architecture of the Mughals was able to change with great regularity during its time, due to the constant movement of the central government. The Mughals also benefited from a blend of styles and influences to create their palaces. The most famous example of Mughal architecture was the Taj Mahal, which was built in the memory of a deceased favorite wife. In the building of temples and tombs in Mughal history, it is quite common to find them built as reminders to the community of saints, heroes, or loved ones. It was  also common to find that they lacked as muc h fine detail as their neighbors to the west, but brought new styles to the architecture derived from the rich traditions of the people of India. Unlike the Ottomans and The Mughal, the Safavids were derived from the family lineage of Mohammed the prophet. Despite this difference, the Safavids built great temples and complexes for similar reasons. The Safavids built great complexes, and like the Ottomans, they moved their capital to a centralized location in order to centralize power, and increase commerce. The Safavids also shared another trait in building with the Ottomans. They both had a strong emphasis on education, and liked to keep a watchful eye over it. For this reason, religious complexes often included the highest forms of education for both the government and the religion of Islam. Though in competition for much of their histories, the Ottomans and Safavids adhered to many of the same architectural styles, with one major difference. Due to their difference in branches of Islam, the Safavids, unlike their Sunni neighbors the Ottomans, had little problem with diverging from traditional customs of avoiding the use of depictions of animals and people in their design. This proved to enhance the appearance of the buildings, but also give them a unique place in the history of Islamic buildings. Manuscripts, on the other hand, have a very different history than do the magnificent buildings of the Islamic world. In the Ottoman Empire, as was true of most of the Muslim world, the Koran was the most copied manuscript. Copies of the Koran were reproduced with astonishing art, but were usually given as gifts to other rulers. In this system, the common person was excluded from viewing the finest manuscripts. Common manuscripts were produced by artisans, but lacked the high quality of that of the royal courts. The Ottomans also used their talents to reproduce manuscripts that depicted great rulers and events in history, as well as topography paintings that displayed the prominence of conquest in the Ottomans daily life. Ottoman manuscripts were not as popular or unique as the ones created by the Safavids or Mughals, but they did posses superiority in the ar t of calligraphy. Manuscripts from the Safavid and Mughal empires possessed greater detail in art, but most of the calligraphers were not as skilled as those of the Ottoman Empire. Despite this lack of good calligraphy, the Safavids and Mughals were more skilled in art and design. Like the Ottomans, the Mughals and Safavid empires copied  the Koran at a high rate, but only the best works of art were given away as gifts. This lack of quality reproductions, which included not only writing, but also painting, led to the decline of the bound book. This decline led to the development of an industry of artisans creating single manuscripts. These manuscripts allowed for both artistic differences that were hard to avoid in large manuscripts, and it allowed more people to posses art. They were collected into books, but they had a greater impact on both the people of the Muslim world and the Europeans, who were exploring the area heavily in search of people to colonize. The arrival of the Europeans also led to a decline in the production of small manuscripts, due to the fact that the printing press and mass production of books were arriving in Europe. Conclusion Islamic art and architecture both had more than one use in Islamic life. The architecture reminded the people of saints, great rulers, martyrs, or beloved figures, as well as serving as a center for religion, education, commerce, and medicine. The art of the Islamic world was originally used to tell of battles, heroes, and most popularly recreate the Koran. Art also allowed for the growth of writing, painting, and the distribution of ideas over greater distances than the spoken word. Both Islamic art and architecture still hold as reminders to Muslims and the world that great rulers, conquerors, and artists have made a lasting impact on the region and its culture.

My Trip to Italy Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

My Trip to Italy I stood in the town square of the small village. Like any other normal day, people were going about their day-to-day business. Old men sat on a wooden bench beneath a large tree and predicted this year’s crop. Women shared town gossip as they shopped for groceries, and children sucked on lollipops while they played along the cobblestone streets. However, unlike any other day, the whole crowd had stopped in unison and darted their eyes in my direction, their full attention on me. I heard hushed whispers as I passed by the crowd, â€Å"Americano!† â€Å"Oh mio Dio, guarda com’à ¨ alto!† I lowered my head as I thought to myself, â€Å"What the hell am I doing here? I’m in a country where I don’t know the language or the culture, and I have another nine and a half months until I go home!† I didn’t know it then, but those nine and a half months that lay in front of me would be the experience that would challenge my views and goals a nd help shape the person I am today. My journey started when I came to the conclusion that, after high school, I wanted (and needed) a break. My senior year had been less than perfect, as I didn’t apply myself, was lazy, partied, and lost my parents’ trust and respect. I was a man without direction or a purpose, and knew that college would be just like high school but with more parties and less parental supervision. I quickly decided that instead of going straight to college, I would take a year off and participate in an exchange program. I’m part Italian, and I’ve always had a desire to trace my roots and to experience Italy and â€Å"la dolce vita† or â€Å"the sweet life.† When I signed the papers to go to Italy for the exchange program, I pictured myself lying in a hammock on a beach, surrounded by three... ...unfair when I left, suddenly became people when I returned. I suddenly realized their good intentions and how they had sacrificed so much so that I would be able to educate and better myself. I made time for friends, and went out of my way to acknowledge and help people who I wouldn’t have noticed before. I fully appreciated everything in my life, and all the things I had taken for granted suddenly became important and meaningful. Katharine Butler Hathaway once said, â€Å"A person needs at intervals to separate from family and companions and go to new places. One must go without familiars in order to be open to influences, to change.† In doing this, I broadened my horizons and changed my outlook on life. Now, as I move on to college, I am leaving my family and friends again to educate and better myself so that I am prepared to walk down any path on the road of life.

The Alhambra

After a long time of going back in time to experience first hand the stories behind the world's greatest paintings, I decided to take a break in studying visual art and widen my perspectives a bit. I stayed up all night on which adventure to take next, and the all-night contemplation led me to a decision to take another adventure—to take on Architectural artworks. First stop, the world-famous Alhambra in Granada, Spain. I went back 12 centuries in time, all the way to the ninth century—the reign of the Islamic invasion of Spain.The Zirites, who are the first kings of Granada, had the Alhambra constructed for military reasons. They built their castles on the hill across the Alhambra, making the structure a fortress for forthcoming attacks from anticipated conquerors. Tension was in the air at all times during this point, but it didn't stop me from appreciating the beauty of the structure that is Alhambra. Though still not fully developed, its obvious Arabesque style†”a type of Islamic art with repetitive complex, geometric patterns of interlacing plant, animal, and abstract forms—makes it a sight to behold.I have already read in art and history books that the Alhambra as a fortress would go on until the 13th century, so I decided to skip the boring part and take myself to 1238. It was at this point when the Alhambra was used as a residence of the kings. During this time, it was the Nasrites who ruled the Islamic kingdom in Spain. The Alhambra was later on developed to include a â€Å"alcazaba† (fortress), an â€Å"alcazar† (palace) and a small â€Å"medina† (city), still with Islamic art ruling the entirety of the structures.The old fortress was later on restored; the artworks developed to reach the full potential of its beauty. This, in turn, signified the Golden Age of Islam in Spain. Perhaps it was the overwhelming awe over the legendary architecture of the Alhambra and the chills it gave me just by looking at s ome parts of its structural design which transported me to yet another century. Next thing I know, it was 1492, and Granada was no longer occupied by the Islams.Catholicism was brought back to Spain, and the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel conquered the city, making the Alhambra a Christian court. Military garrisons and churches were built inside the compound, incorporating Catholicism into the Islamic architecture. For centuries the Alhambra turned into a Catholic city built on Islamic roots, but as years passed, the legendary architectural wonder was left neglected. I was then transported to the 19th century, and it shocked me to find the Alhambra unoccupied, except by thieves, beggars, and homeless people.It struck me so hard that in no time I got back to present time. Now, as I am writing this, the Alhambra is already a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a strong contender for the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Alhambra being recognized as one of the most important stru ctures and architectural artworks in the entire world makes me so proud that I was part of history when it all happened; though I was nothing but a spectator, I got to experience the rich culture in which the Alhambra was rooted, and the colorful history it had withstood.References Crayon, G. (1832). The Alhambra. London: Samuel Bentley. Lipscomb, K. (2005). Hunter Travel Guides: Spain. New Jersey: Hunter Publishing, Inc. Irwin, Robert. (2004). The Alhambra. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd. Feminism. (n. d. ). In Encyclop? dia Britannica online. Retrieved from http://www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/724633/feminism Granada, The Alhambra. (n. d. ). In Andalucia Website. Retrieved from http://www. andalucia. com/cities/granada/alhamhistory. htm Arabesque: Art Movement. (n. d. ). In Art Education. Retrieved from

Treatment Of Schizophreni Treatment For Schizophrenia Essay

TREATMENT FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA Schizophrenia currently has no cure, but there are various treatments that can be utilized to manage its symptoms. The first step to adequately treating a schizophrenic patient is a correct diagnosis; inclusively Tsuang, Glatt, and Faraone (2011) suggest that, â€Å"Differential diagnoses are crucial in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia to rule out other conditions† (p. 13). After a conclusive diagnosis, treatment options are discussed and â€Å"neuroleptics are usually first choice for treatment† (Tsuang et al., 2011, p. 94). Neuroleptics or antipsychotics are known to, â€Å"block dopamine D2 receptors, and this is believed to be crucial to their antipsychotic action† (McKenna Mortimer, 2010, p. 33). Antipsychotics are labeled under two categories, â€Å"Typical† or â€Å"First- generation antipsychotics† (FGAs) and â€Å"Atypical† or â€Å"Second- generation antipsychotics† (SGAs). According to Marin, Escobar, and World Scientific (2013), â€Å"The selection of an antipsychotic for the initial treatment of schizophrenia is essentially a trade- off between the risk for metabolic side effects†¦ and the risk for motor adverse effects† (p. 87) On one hand, the â€Å"most common side effect is extrapyramidal† (Tsuang et al., 2011, p. 91) for typical antipsychotics. Whereas atypical antipsychotics, according to Tsuang (2011), are known to have metabolic side effects like weight gain or a much more serious side effect called â€Å"agranulocytosis, which i ncreases susceptibility toShow MoreRelatedTreatment Options For Schizophreni Symptoms And Symptoms Of Schizophrenia1479 Words   |  6 PagesTreatment Through time, scientists and doctors have created various treatment options for schizophrenia based off scientific theories in their time. At one point physicians would perform brain surgery to remove a portion of brain from an individual suffering with schizophrenia that was responsible for the hallucinations and delusions the individual would experience. Although the surgery might have decreased the amount of hallucinations and delusions experienced by the individual, it led to cognitive