This course is a wide-ranging introduction to the art of the Islamic world from its beginnings in 7th-century Arabia to the present. The Islamic world will be defined broadly to include not only the historic lands of Islam extending from Spain to China, but also the current Muslim Diaspora. We will trace the development and diversity of artistic production of Islamic dynasties and regions, paying close attention to the changing relations between the European and the Islamic worlds, particularly in the 19th-century colonial context. Given the historical, chronological and geographic breadth of the material, our purpose will be to situate the painting, architecture, and ceramics (among other media) that will be the subject of our study into their specific socio-cultural, economic, and religious contexts. Throughout the course, we will explore issues of power and patronage, trade, regionalism, identity politics, and cultural interaction within the framework of artistic production and reception.