Arts Of The City Victorious: Islamic Art And Architecture In Fatimid North Africa And Egypt
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Wear and tear with damage
Pages: Good
Condition remarks: dj repaired with tape.
In a sweeping study of one of history's most dazzling yet underappreciated dynasties, Arts of the City Victorious chronicles the remarkable artistic and architectural legacy of the Fatimid Caliphate, the Ismaili Shia rulers who transformed North Africa and Egypt into a glittering centre of Islamic civilisation between the tenth and twelfth centuries. Jonathan M. Bloom presents a richly detailed survey of the monuments, objects, and visual culture produced under Fatimid patronage — from the grand mosques and ceremonial gates of Cairo (al-Qahira, the Victorious) to the exquisite woodwork, ceramics, rock crystal, and textiles that defined an era of extraordinary creative achievement. The work situates these masterpieces within their broader historical and religious context, illuminating how Fatimid rulers wielded art and architecture as powerful instruments of dynastic legitimacy and Ismaili doctrine. Bloom, a preeminent scholar of Islamic art and architecture, argues with clarity and authority that the Fatimid period represents a pivotal chapter in the history of the Islamic world — one whose influence radiated far beyond Egypt's borders. His prose is precise yet accessible, guiding the reader through complex theological and political currents without sacrificing scholarly rigour. Published jointly by The American University in Cairo Press and The Institute of Ismaili Studies, this volume stands as an indispensable reference for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of faith, power, and beauty in the medieval Islamic world — leaving the reader to wonder how much of this luminous heritage still waits to be uncovered.
Author: Jonathan M. Bloom
Format: Hardback
Published: 2008, The American University in Cairo Press in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Genre: Architecture
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Wear and tear with damage
Pages: Good
Condition remarks: dj repaired with tape.
In a sweeping study of one of history's most dazzling yet underappreciated dynasties, Arts of the City Victorious chronicles the remarkable artistic and architectural legacy of the Fatimid Caliphate, the Ismaili Shia rulers who transformed North Africa and Egypt into a glittering centre of Islamic civilisation between the tenth and twelfth centuries. Jonathan M. Bloom presents a richly detailed survey of the monuments, objects, and visual culture produced under Fatimid patronage — from the grand mosques and ceremonial gates of Cairo (al-Qahira, the Victorious) to the exquisite woodwork, ceramics, rock crystal, and textiles that defined an era of extraordinary creative achievement. The work situates these masterpieces within their broader historical and religious context, illuminating how Fatimid rulers wielded art and architecture as powerful instruments of dynastic legitimacy and Ismaili doctrine. Bloom, a preeminent scholar of Islamic art and architecture, argues with clarity and authority that the Fatimid period represents a pivotal chapter in the history of the Islamic world — one whose influence radiated far beyond Egypt's borders. His prose is precise yet accessible, guiding the reader through complex theological and political currents without sacrificing scholarly rigour. Published jointly by The American University in Cairo Press and The Institute of Ismaili Studies, this volume stands as an indispensable reference for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of faith, power, and beauty in the medieval Islamic world — leaving the reader to wonder how much of this luminous heritage still waits to be uncovered.