Hundreds of photographs illustrate the beautiful Islamic monuments and artwork that advanced early Mediterranean civilization to new heights in the 7th and 8th centuries-a true renaissance that
took place long before northern Europe's. Madrasa, palace, fort, garden, public bath, and mausoleum designs are explored and placed into a historic and cultural context. Steirlin explicates the
Islamic aesthetics of abstract decoration, formed by the interweaving of geometric mosaics, colors, and arabesques that expresses a feverish creativity on the part of Islamic artists of the
period. The result is an engaging guide to a body of work fascinating for its very complexity.
