| Islam established itself as a force to be reckoned with both as a religion and a civilization. During the early 5th century, the two titans, Rome and Iran, were in the midst of major conflict, providing the opportunity for a third party to rise in their absence. The objective of this thesis is ultimately to discuss and explore the important artistic and architectural trends that follow from as early as Imperial Rome through the Byzantine tradition and to the early Islamic structures. Later chapters are dedicated to particular buildings where the transfer and adaptations of these traditions take place. However, it is important firstly to paint an accurate picture of the socio-political atmosphere of the time in order to better explain how a budding religion like Islam was able to establish itself by means of such architectural feats. |
