The Glory of the Sultans: Islamic Architecture in India

Indias most dazzling architecture is presented in all its diversity through specially commissioned photography and erudite text that places each monument within its historical, cultural, and technical context. Between the twelfth and the mid-nineteenth centuries, most of the Indian subcontinent was under Muslim domination, giving rise to a unique architectural blend of Islamic, Turkish, and Persian influences. Yves Porter provides the full panorama of this astonishing ensemble, explaining in depth the key monuments of each period and region, which are accompanied by Gerard Degeorges photographs of the monuments and architectural details. During the long reign of the Mughal Dynasty (15261857), the architecture of the subcontinent passed through some especially brilliant phases. Humayuns tomb at Delhi (1565); Fatehpur Sikri (briefly the capital of Akbar); the Shalimar gardens in Lahore, Pakistan; or the unforgettable Taj Mahal at Agra (1632) are just a few examples. In this scholarly work, Yves Porter provides a comprehensive history of Muslim architecture on the Indian subcontinent, redressing an important lack of coverage on the subject.