Synagogues in the Islamic World

'This book covers a remarkable geographic range and explain Sephardic Jewish architecture in its cultural contexts. Readers who think of Jews and their visual arts as primarily Ashkenazic will have much to learn from these essays, composed by Muslim, Christian and Jewish specialists in a spirit of inquiry and collaboration.' Carol Herselle Krinsky, Department of Art History, New York University Explores the design and development of synagogues in the Islamic world This beautifully illustrated volume looks at the spaces created by and for Jews in areas under the political or religious control of Muslims. Covering regions as diverse as Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, it asks how contextual issues and traditions influenced the evolving architecture and design of synagogues. Revealing how they reflect the culture of the Jewish minority at macro and micro scales, from the city to the interior, the book also considers the patterns of development of synagogues in connection with urban elements and monuments. Key Features: *Uniquely explores the elements and concepts applied in the design of synagogues in the Islamic world *Shows connections between Jewish and Islamic architecture and the collaboration among Muslims and Jews in the design and construction of synagogues *Takes an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approach, providing a new setting for the analysis of Islamic architecture *Addresses historical, social, urban and architectural aspects of synagogues throughout the Muslim world including Iraq, Afghanistan, Morocco, Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Iran and India Mohammad Gharipour is Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. He has authored and edited numerous books including Persian Gardens and Pavilions (2013), Urban Landscapes of the Middle East (2016) and Calligraphy and Architecture in the Muslim World (co-edited with Irvin Cemil Schick, Edinburgh University Press, 2013). Cover image: Sinagoga De Santa Maria La Blanca (c) mtrommer/Bigstockphoto.com Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-1171-4 Barcode