Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/713

 SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE. 655 and 297), formed pleasure houses during the hfe of the founder. The Moslems separate the sexes, and for royal personages separate tomb houses were often designed. V. Social and Political. — The war of conquest by which Islam was to subjugate the world bears an important relation to the evolution of the style, and is outlined in the next section. Each Caliph bei^g a spiritual and temporal ruler, a junction of church and state was effected, which was responsible for the many religious buildings erected, and for the power wielded by each Caliph for perpetuating his memory. Architecture was also continually receiving an impetus by the building of new capitals, consequent on the change of dynasties. The position of women in the social system influenced the planning and design of palaces and houses, in consequence of the isolation of the harem. In towns, such influence was responsible for the elaborate and intricate lattice decoration of the windows, which prevented the women within from seeing or being seen. In the " Arabian Nights' Entertainments " are described the Mahometan religion, customs and general Eastern life, which the student will find interesting and instructive. vi. Historical. — Saracenic chronology dates from the " Hejira " or flight of Mahomet from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622. After the first four Caliphs, who were friends or kinsmen of Mahomet, came the dynasty of the "Ommiads" reigning at Damascus. They were overthrown in 750 by the descendants of Abbas, the uncle of Mahomet, who founded the " Abbasides " dynasty with Bagdad as the capital. Syria was conquered by the Saracens a.d. 632-639. Egypt fell in 638. The foundation of Cairo by the Fatimite dynasty dates from a.d. 971. Saladin, however, reconquered Egypt to the Caliphate of Bagdad in 11 71, and in 1187 drove the Christians from Jerusalem. North Africa was brought under subjection between the years A.D. 647-709, Carthage being taken in 698. Spain was overrun by the Moors in a.d. 710-713, and the independent Caliphate of Cordova was established. This was divided later into the four petty kingdoms of Seville, Granada, Toledo and Valentia, all of which were gradually recovered by the Christians in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The fall of Granada in 1492 marks the end of the Moorish rule in Spain. Sicily was occupied by the Moors in the eighth century ; they grafted their style on to the Christian architecture. Sicily was recaptured by the Christians in 1090. Persia was conquered from a.d. 632-651. The Saracenic architecture of that country was then largely founded on and