The Minaret Paperback / softback

A lavishly illustrated history of this iconic element of Islamic architecture Tracing its origins and development, Bloom reveals that the Minaret, long understood to have been invented in the early years of Islam as the place from which the muezzin gives the call to prayer, was actually invented some two centuries later to be a visible symbol of Islam. Drawing on buildings, archaeological reports, medieval histories, geographies and early Arabic poetry, Bloom reinterprets the origin, development and meanings of the minaret.

From early Islam to the modern world, and from Iran, Egypt, Turkey and India to West and East Africa, the Yemen and Southeast Asia, this richly illustrated book is a sweeping tour of the minaret's position as the symbol of Islam. Key features Richly illustrated with colour photographs as well as black and white photographs and line drawingsBrings the discussion up to the present day: how are modern architects using the tower form?Includes a new section on the engineering of minarets for scholars with a specialist interest in architectureEasy to read: uses simplified transcriptions of Arabic terms and names Praise from the BRISMES Book Prize 'An antidote to so much of what passes for scholarship in art history today.

The author trades in facts; not fancy. He scrutinises the material culture and pores over the historical texts, alive to what the former can be said to say and what the latter do in fact say, as well as what they do not; his arguments follow.'