The goal of this assignment is for you to investigate the design, decoration, and purpose of the Church of Hagia Sophia, determine how it inspired the design of the Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent in Istanbul, then reflect on what this tells us about the transmission of styles and design across time and cultures.
Instructions for writing your paper
This assignment is more formal than the Canvas Discussions, and your answers should be in well-organized paragraphs. All answers must be in your own words. Quotations may be used but must be less that 10% of your content. If you use a quotation or paraphrase, you must include a citation in the text and a complete reference at the end of the essay. See sections on citations and plagiarism at end of these instructions. Spelling and grammar will be graded.
Part One: (10 points, minimum word count 300)
The church of Hagia Sophia in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople was widely regarded as the most beautiful church in the world. In part one of your paper, you should identify and describe at least three important characteristics of its design, such as its plan and orientation, its structure, and its decoration (what types of decoration are found in the church, what is represented, and how does it speak to the purpose of the church). Keep in mind that this description will serve as a basis for comparison with the mosque of Suleyman in part two.
Part Two: (10 points, minimum word count 300)
The mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, designed by the architect Sinan for the Sultan Suleyman in Istanbul (previously Constantinople), was intended to rival the beauty of the Hagia Sophia. In part two of your paper, you should identify and describe at least three important characteristics of its design, such as its plan and orientation, its structure, and its decoration (what types of decoration are found in the mosque, what is represented), and how does it speak to the purpose of the mosque.
Part Three: Reflection (10 points, minimum word count 300)
Based on the identification and description of the important characteristics of each building provided above, what do you think are the two most important qualities of the mosque of Suleyman that were inspired by or based upon the Hagia Sophia?
What does this tell us about the influence of older building and why the Ottomans would be inspired by its example?