The Islamic Art module explores the origin and development of the arts produced in the central regions of the Muslim world from the 7th century AD to the present day: architecture, the arts of the book, ceramics, metalwork, glass as well as textiles and carpets.

The course follows a broadly chronological structure, ensuring clarity and continuity, and providing a coherent framework for study. Among the topics covered will be the use of decorative motifs such as calligraphy, the arabesque and geometric ornament and their evolution through different periods and regions. The course will explore what is particular to Islamic art and how artists in the Muslim world borrowed from other cultures as well as the impact Islamic art had on the West. The influence of the China trade, the exchange of luxury items along the Silk route, and the contacts with Europe and the Mongols in Central Asia will also be examined.