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Throughout history, architecture has served as a symbol of culture, reflecting civilizations beliefs, successes, and eventual demise. From colossal monuments to the dwellings and structures that make up a citys core, one may discover a lot about the people who lived there centuries before the modern-day. Historians are learning about the influence of architecture on humans in fundamentally new ways by researching the building envelope of the past in conjunction with modern-day studies on cognition and the environment. Architecture not only has a tremendous influence on society, but it may also significantly affect its residents on a more intimate level. Everything from the arrangement of the place to the material choices may have an impact on the well-being, mood, and quality of life of individuals. For example, employees who work in well-designed workplaces take less sick time, are more focused, and offer more to their firm overall (Lowe). However, architecture might play an even more significant role in monuments devoted to spiritual activities. As such, the Taj Mahal and the Qaaba are widely celebrated spaces of Middle Eastern culture expressed by spatial art.
The Taj Mahal and the Qaaba were built in different cultural contexts in diverse world regions. Namely, the Taj Mahal was constructed in memory of Mymtaz Mahal, the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, being a part of contemporary Persian architecture ( Taj Mahal ). It is a massive mausoleum complex that was built in 1632 in Agra, India ( Taj Mahal, par. 1). The temple represents Mumtaz Mahals elegance and grace depicted metaphorically, while its practical purpose is confounded with the site of burial. In turn, the Qaaba, commonly known as the Kaaba, is a cubic-shaped structure in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In Islamic tradition, this structure is regarded as the holiest spot. The exact date and names of the monuments constructors are not known, but it is roughly before the 7th age when Arabic tribes yet praised their regional gods (OConnor). Thus, the regions and motifs of the architectors vary, as well as the time of the monuments construction.
The primarily religious, cultural, and social values of the cultures that erected each structure have similarities and differences. The Mughal Empire governed most of India and Pakistan at the age of the Taj Mahal building. It reinforced Islam in South Asia and disseminated both Muslim (especially Persian) cultural life and the faith. The Mughals were Muslims that controlled a Hindu-majority kingdom. On the other hand, the empire was a uniquely Indian historical experience. Mughal culture combined Perso-Islamic and local Indian components to form a distinct yet diverse totality. When Qaaba was constructed, Arabia was populated by countless tribal entities, which have constantly been divided or confederated; its history is a tapestry of various factions. A natural system has evolved that involves transitioning from tribal chaos to centralized governance, especially present after Islams emergence. Thus, both places had Islamic traditions and values, although they differed culturally since Mughal Empire was a synthesis of Indian and Persian societies while Mecca is an Arabic region.
The details of the monuments described earlier deserve particular attention. In the Taj Mahal, the terrace structure is encircled by four minarets that catch the podiums four corners. The use of white marble in the building of all components minarets, the tomb structure, and the platform contributes to the notion of organizational coherence ( Taj Mahal ). Aside from plant themes and sophisticated engravings on the tiles, the building elements are enhanced with calligraphy featuring Koranic texts. The aesthetic of the decorations is likewise maintained in the way the outdoor parts are ornamented ( Taj Mahal ). As for Qaaba, the buildings four sides are composed of black granite. White silk is used to make the roof; the golden drapes and black silk adorn the structure (OConnor). The four corners allude to the four doors of the school, the quadrant, and the geographical points. The inside is built of marble with calligraphy and limestone ground. The upper half of the green cloth-encased walls has gold-embroidered Koranic texts (OConnor). Thus, both structures present magnificent and complex architectural designs embodying the religious and cultural ideas of the people who erected them.
The two projects have similarities and differences that were partially mentioned before. As such, both contain important connections with Islam, which is expressed in the inscriptions of the buildings. Moreover, the constructions retain a similar geometric basis of the quadrant, which is a significant element of Middle Eastern architecture. However, the Taj Mahals decoration and the choice of materials are more complex due to the fact that it was built much later than Qaaba. Finally, the buildings have different purposes and employ diverse elements of the cultures of their constructors.
The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the most prominent religious and cultural centers in the world since it contains not only the symbolism of passion, elegance, and longevity but also spiritual importance. The grandeur of architectural features fully validates this statement. Similarly, the Kaaba is regarded as one of Islams pillars and a spiritual emblem of identification for all Muslims. With their rich historical legacy, these edifices contribute significantly to the picture of current Islamic culture.
Works Cited
Lowe, Derek. Architecture and Productivity: Four Theses. AAAS, 2018.
OConnor, Tom. What Is the Kaaba? A Brief History of the Holiest Muslim Site Ahead of Hajj 2017. Newsweek, 2017.
Taj Mahal. History, 2019.
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