This book offers a nice overview of the Islamic architecture found across India. It brings together several articles written over the years by John Burton-Page, a well-known British scholar. His writings focus on the main architectural styles and important buildings constructed during Muslim rule in India starting in the 1200s.
Recommended for: Beginner-to-intermediate scholars and students interested in Indian Islamic architecture. This comprehensive handbook covers the key forms, typologies, sites, and monuments of Islamic architecture in India.
You will:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of the principal forms of Indian Islamic architecture, including mosques, tombs, minarets, forts, gateways, and water structures.
- Learn about the most important sites and monuments from the Delhi Sultanate period (13th-15th centuries) through the Mughal era (16th-17th centuries).
- Discover insights into the architectural styles, materials, and construction techniques that define Indian Islamic architectural heritage.
- Explore an overview of the subject that is unsurpassed in its compression of information, serving as an indispensable introduction for both scholars and travelers.
Detailed Overview
The book looks closely at early mosques and tombs built when Turkish warlords from Central Asia (the Delhi Sultanate) took control of North India. Then it covers the grander monuments sponsored by the Mughal Empire, which peaked in the 1500s-1600s and he discusses the design of mosques, mausoleums minarets, forts, gateways, fountains and other structures. The goal is to highlight creative aspects as well as common features.
The articles seem well chosen to introduce readers to major sites tied to Islamic rule, working from early Delhi east to Agra and beyond. People interested in architecture will appreciate photos and background on famous buildings like the Taj Mahal or the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. The book wraps up with a glossary of terms related to Indo-Islamic buildings.
Overall it’s a nice compilation that shows off Burton-Page’s deep knowledge gained over decades of on-site exploration. This volume sums up his valuable insights into an important part of India’s architectural tradition. The focused content should meet the needs of students as well as tourists seeking to better understand and enjoy the diverse Islamic monuments found across north India.
Citation
Michell, G., & Burton-Page, J. (2007). Indian Islamic Architecture: Forms and Typologies, Sites and Monuments. Brill. https://brill.com/edcollbook-oa/title/14595
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