Map making project by

Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Iran

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 06:59:39 UTC

I focused on the city of Kashan within Isfahan, as it played a crucial role in the development of Persian art, architecture, and culture such as the production of high-quality textiles and ceramics.

Kosovo

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:00:38 UTC

Located in the city of Prizren, the Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hammam is a bathhouse built in the 16th century. It is an excellent example of Ottoman architecture and served as a public bath during that time.

Aleppo, Syria

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:13:26 UTC

Beit Ghazaleh, an Ottoman-era palace in Aleppo, Syria, named after the Ghazaleh family, is one of the largest and best-preserved palaces from the 17th century. What I find impressive is its six courtyards, intricate wall decorations, and avoidance of human figure representations. Furthermore, the beautiful Beit Ghazaleh symbolizes the wealth and cultural diversity of Aleppo during the Ottoman period.

Bursa, Türkiye

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:17:41 UTC

The Grand Mosque of Bursa was commissioned by Sultan Bayezid I to commemorate his great victory at the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396. I selected it as it served as a symbolic expression of triumph and a testament to the strength and expansion of the Ottoman Empire.

Constantinople, İstanbul, Türkiye

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:25:37 UTC

I selected the Hagia Sophia due to its grand architecture and religious history. It became a prominent Islamic site under Ottoman rule and its conversion into a mosque held immense religious significance for the Ottoman Empire, establishing it as a central place of worship for Muslims in the capital.

Baghdad, Iraq

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:34:31 UTC

Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa, established in 1227 CE in Baghdad, Iraq, served as a significant center for higher education during the Ottoman Empire period. The Madrasa's comprehensive curriculum encompassed various subjects, with a primary focus on Islamic law. What is even more intriguing, however, is that it played a crucial role in disseminating Sunni thought during the Abbasid period.

Jerusalem, Israel

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:41:09 UTC

The Dome of the Rock lies at the heart of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. It is recognized as the world's oldest surviving example of Islamic architecture. Built by the Umayyad Caliphate under Abd al-Malik in 691–692 CE, it is the earliest religious structure constructed by a Muslim ruler. So cool.

Damascus, Syria

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:47:49 UTC

The Al-Azm Palace, built in Damascus for the governor As'ad Pasha al-Azm is a significant monument to 18th-century Arab architecture. The speed at which it was built is incredibly impressive, having been constructed in only three years by 800 workers. The palace also features highly sophisticated and expensive decorative elements, reflecting the opulence of its time.

Mecca Saudi Arabia

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 07:54:35 UTC

The Great Mosque of Mecca resides in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. I selected it as it is considered one of the oldest mosques, with ties to the time of Prophet Abraham, and has been under the control of various caliphs, sultans, and kings, currently falling under the custodianship of the King of Saudi Arabia.

Belgrade, Serbia

jongchin24 — 2024-01-29 08:05:27 UTC

Constructed in 1575, The Bajrakli Mosque in Belgrade, Serbia, is one of the few surviving testaments to the Ottoman Empire's historical presence in the region. Interestingly, it is the only mosque that endured from the 273 mosques that once dotted the landscape during Ottoman rule in Serbia.

Edirne, Edirne Merkez/Edirne, Türkiye

jongchin24 — 2024-03-01 01:44:49 UTC

The Selimiye Mosque was constructed in Edirne by Sultan Selim II (the son of Suleiman the Great and Hürrem Sultan). It is a symbol of Ottoman grandeur and was funded by the spoils of the conquest of Cyprus, a testament to the empire’s military successes, despite the perceived loss at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

Salònica, Greece

jongchin24 — 2024-03-01 02:05:57 UTC

I selected The Hamza Bey Mosque in Salonica because I was intrigued by how a single physical structure could represent so many different ideas, cultures, and conditions over time. While it was initially commissioned by Hafsa Hatun, it was unfortunately damaged later by earthquakes and fires until it was rebuilt in 1620. It has functioned as a religious building, a place for military services, and a cinema — representing a rather diverse Ottoman past.