1. Capitals of Islamic Empires and Centers of Architecture

2. Istanbul: Capital of the Ottoman Empire

3. Mehmet the Conqueror Captured Constantinople in 1453 Changed to Istanbul Capital of the Ottoman Empire

4. A plan of the original architecture of Hagia Sophia, the great church In Constantinople (Istanbul)

5. This engraving of the Hagia Sophia was made in 1852 by the Fossati brothers, Swiss architects who carried out a major restoration of the mosque's interior.

6. The müezzin mahfili, used by readers of the Koran during services. Interior of Hagia Sophia

7. Southeast Niche in Hagia Sophia Arabic roundels in wooden plaques added in the 19 th century

8. Suleiman – Ottoman Sultan

9. Suleiman's Mosque

10. Topkapi Palace Sultan's Quarters

11. Topkapi Palace

12. Topkapi Palace Interior

13. Topaki Harem Room

14. Shah ‘Abbas (1588-1629) Great Safavid monarch Made Isfahan Safavid capital in 1598 Connected the capital city with the Zayandeh river Royal buildings located in the center Surrounded by tree lined avenues

15. Isfahan, the Safavid Capital:

16. Shah Abbas Mosque

17. Safavid Royal Mosque

18. Exterior Safavid Royal Mosque

19. Detailed Mosque Mosaics

20. The Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah The Mosque is situated in the east of the Maydan with its golden tiled dome. It was constructed for an important shaykh in 1602 and used as the private oratory of the shah and his family

21. Lutfallah Mosque

22. Interior of women's Mosque

23. Founder of ShahJahanabad Patron of Mughal art and architecture Responsible for the building of the Taj Mahal http://i190.photobucket.com/al bums/z218/LilliputStation/Sha hJahan.jpg Shah Jahan the Mughal Emperor

25. Facade of the Red Fort, Shahjahanabad built under Shah Jahan 1639-48

26. Jami Mosque, Shahjahanabad built under Shah Jahan 1639-48

27. The Taj Mahal

28. Works Cited http://www.byzantines.net/byzcathculture/images/suleiman.jpg http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/users/jchen2/Website%20Istanbul%203/images/57.%20Topkapi%20Pala ce%20Sultan's%20Quarters.jpg http://www.msu.edu/~thomp600/images/Topkapi%20Palace%20- %20Splendid%20Ceramic%20Tiles_png.jpg http://www.com.washington.edu/Program/news/digijournalism/islam/media_artarch18.html http://www.worldtrek.org/odyssey/mideast/041200/gifs/jassaf.gif http://www.islamicart.com/library/empires/india/images/shahjahan.gif http://www.asiahousegallery.com/miniature2.JPG http://sangha.net/messengers/akbar.htm#Images%20of%20Akbar%20the http://homepages.bw.edu/~wwwhis/lutfallah1602_isfahan.jpg http://www.friendlyplanet.com/images/fatehpur-sikri-big.jpg http://www.murraycreek.net/elliottj/travels/highlights/india/04_delhi/10_taj_mahal_postcard_shot.jpg http://newton.uor.edu/FacultyFolder/rebecca_brown/old/arth100/empire/Mughals/mughcity.html http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia.htm http://web.mit.edu/4.614/www/h18.html