Architecture

As Muslim empires grew, they built beautiful cities and buildings that showed their faith and knowledge. One of the most important cities was Baghdad, built by the Abbasids. Baghdad was carefully planned and became a great center of learning, trade, and culture, with libraries, markets, palaces, and mosques.

Mosques were built across the Muslim world and often shared the same features:

• Minarets — tall towers for the call to prayer
  
  

• Large prayer halls for people to worship together
  
  

• Courtyards and fountains for washing before prayer
  
  

• Domes and arches that made buildings feel open and peaceful
  
  

These building ideas spread with Muslim empires across North Africa, the Middle East, and into Europe and Asia. Many mosques and buildings today still use the same designs, showing how important and lasting Islamic architecture has been.