Master’s Degree in Islamic Art and Archaeology

Short Description

Artefacts and works of art from the Islamic world are the subject of study in this degree programme, ranging from the Mediterranean to South and Central Asia and covering a chronology from the 7th century CE to the present. This includes buildings, paintings and objects (“minor arts”, i. e. ceramics, textiles, woodwork, metalwork etc.). Crucial aspects refer to the relations between forms and contents. Works of art and artefacts are examined in their respective cultural, politico-historical and socio-economic contexts. Methods range from analytic description of forms to the identification of iconographic issues, considering contemporary written sources as well as archaeological evidence. The holdings of the University Museum (Bumiller Collection) are used for exercises in techniques of documentation and analysis. The regular schedule of the M.A. course is four semesters.