How Muslim Art Challenges The Dark Ages Myth (Waldemar Januszczak Documentary) | Perspective

Subscribe and click the bell icon to get more arts content every week:
tinyurl.com/yc3m7n4m
Along with Christianity, the Dark Ages saw the emergence of another religion - Islam. After emerging in the Near East, it spread across North Africa and into Europe in such a short time that there was originally no art. In more settled times, highly decorated mosques began to be built based on the prophet Mohammad's own home. Their architectural and scientific achievements, including the mapping of the stars, dwarfed anything existing in the western world.
Januszczak visits the Dome of the Rock, desert palaces forgotten by modern Islam with their more sensual artwork, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun where it was believed Noah's Ark landed, and the Mosque of Cordoba. He identifies the Nilometer used to measure the flood of the Nile and uses an astrolabe that Muslims used to find the direction of Mecca.
Perspective is KZbin's home for the arts. Come here to get your fill of great music, theatre, art and much, much more!
From The Dark Ages: An Age of Light
Content licensed from DRG to Little Dot Studios.
Any queries, please contact us at:
[e-mail]

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

When I watch these documentaries I am often reminded how lucky I was as a child of the 50s. My father, a scientist and artist, and my mother loved art and used their small amount of disposable income to buy books of all kinds, but art was their passion. Their art books included Indian, Persian, Islamic, & early medieval art. I was allowed to look at them as much as I wanted as long as I treated the books with respect.

[@ageofechochambers9469]

Dear Sharon plz look up islam.

[@kmmkristin]

@@ageofechochambers9469 why? What is your point? What is it that you think Sharon will learn by looking up Islam?

[@hereist4nd140]

The islam sends painter to hell is what Mohammed said. This is because in that era poeple made images that they worship. But still a lot of muslims hold on to that believe. However in the quran there is nothing explicitly says it's bad.

[@emmanueldonnelly5792]

Indeed your were an happy child with very wise mum and dad!

[@jamesyanushka4715]

I've watched most of these multiple times and am so dumbfounded how entertaining and informative he is, and not behind a pay wall! This is the way it should be. Sharing your knowledge many people love and enjoy yet many could not afford otherwise. It spreads the love of art amongst the world. Thanks!!!

[@flickz8186]

"Dumbfounded" 💀

[@vajra1171]

Waldemar Januszczak secretly converted to islam..

[@shahidachoudhury6925]

@@vajra1171 😃

[@magentaorchids]

Waldy is my favorite documentary maker ever I am addicted to his work He deserves recognition from the world for his exceptional well researched work You are best at what you do Hope history will do you justice and remember you as one of the best to document it accurately without bias

[@Saljarba87]

He does deserve a recognition. The level of passion to his knowledge is unmatched

[@valarieart]

I am thankful to have discovered this series during quarantine. I feel as if I am vacationing with Dr. Januszczak, my private tour guide, in every episode. I only wish they would be listed in the order of which he speaks.

[@rickystrychnine]

I was thinking the same. He talks about "the next one" or "the last one" in a series, that is just about the only (very minor) complaint I have through.

[@mary-annestuart7419]

It seems this is the order, according to Wikipedia Episode one: "The Clash of the Gods" Episode two: "What the Barbarians Did for Us" Episode three: "The Wonder of Islam" Episode four: "The Men of the North"

[@noahhultgren1710]

@Forrest Khari in case anyone is stupid enough to try this, it is a paypal scam. hacking accounts is not so easy.

[@noahhultgren1710]

@Leroy Bo most likely these are bots posting this stuff, i have seen a couple goobers fall for this one on reddit and other sites. don't expect hacking to be so simple. the reason scammers will choose a service like account hacking is because its technically slightly illegal, that way victims will be less likely to ask for help as it would be an admission of guilt.

[@lauramarks6207]

@@rickystrychnine p

[@StephiSensei26]

It's impossible to be sated from Waldemar's programs. There's always more to learn, and the appetite just grows. As one toddles around with him, from one eye-popping experience to the next, Waldemar the Cherub-Art Critic-Analyst-PHD- Enthusiast, one is left completely agog with exciting information. With wonderful teachers like Waldemar, you can almost scent the faint wafting aroma of fried brains in the air. Fabulous! Love it! May I have some more please?

[@peterduncan1519]

It was the Dark Ages for the West not Islam.

[@tropicalstrings]

Spain is also the west.

[@SarahSmith-nr2wj]

This one documentary shows how our learnt history is very skewed to a certain narrative, but there is a shit load of other suppressed perspectives and facts.

[@tropicalstrings]

Was King Arthur Carolus Magnus The monastrys with their books and art sso dark? And was the conquest and attacs on the west stealing people an churches, conquering by sword till Ysland so advanced?

[@skanderibnziyad8702]

Hhhh

[@user-ge8yn4ql4i]

Long live the Renaissance age people looking down on medieval times. /s

[@5zakuro]

I was in Cordoba a few years ago, and the mosque-cathedral was undeniably the crown jewel in its beauty and imposing architecture, but I was even more taken with the dozens of fountains and other small-scale architectural curiosities that I saw while on a morning walk around the city. I still think it was maybe the most beautiful place I've ever been to

[@classics39]

Try to go to Uzbekistan. Can't wait to go back.

[@MrDJdo]

The David Attenborough of art his documentaries are so captivating

[@lindabranigan1443]

Mr. DJdo. Well put. Now, I am going to Google Mr. Attenborough, since I could use an educational fix of another kind.

[@_helmi]

As a Muslim, I learned a lot about my religion through others. And learning was something that Muhammad pbuh was asked to do when Gabriel came down and said "Read!" to the Prophet. In that very context, many of the early scholars were inspired by the words of God. Quranic inscriptions were everywhere as shown in the video. The Dome of Rock and the Great Mosque of Kairouan are the perfect examples of what Islam shall be - the religion that superseded the previous ones and instead of saying "Fuck you, Christians, Jews etc.", what Islam does was bringing together everyone in unity. And unity is holy. Just because having Roman pillars and crosses inside the mosque, it does make the site less holy. See and recognise the values it brought.

[@jonathansoko1085]

Your religion isnt the reason for any of it. Notice that at the rise of islam, ALL innovation CEASES!? Whys that? Oh, its becuase islam stomped out the innovation. You worship and bow down to a rock and your false prophet had s*x with CHILDREN. Your religion is SICK. You didnt supersede anything, you are liars and thieves. Islam doesnt bring people together, its death and destruction.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

@@jonathansoko1085 you are very ignorant of the history of Islam…I’m always sad for people who don’t learn history in order to preserve their prejudices. If you truly learn the histories of humanity, prejudice flees.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

@Meep P he’s not a loser…human children and young people often receive education which serves those in power and reflects their bigotry…and historically bigotry is a useful tool of oppression. Keep people hating/terrified of each other they won’t be to organize in their own shared interest. An oversimplification, but no less true,

[@jonathansoko1085]

@@sharonkaczorowski8690 actually I study it exclusively, I fear you don't know you're own history. Your prophet is a pedophile, that's a fact not opinion

[@Raiden1]

1:41 - how does the astrolabe work 4:25 - Himalayas formed natural border north of india isolating them from their neighbors 8:03 - King solomon (sulaiman) & Herod 9:53 - Prophet Ibrahim 10:01 - Arc of the covenant 29:25 - Mehrab origin (imaam spot) 34:54 - Nilometer 36:22 - Alfra Ganus 39:57 - Arabesques meaning 44:46 - Bawerhaus 49:44 - Talismanic 52:52 - Visigoth 58:08 - difference between sextant and astrolabe

[@kckazcoll1]

thank you!

[@mikeny5020]

@@kckazcoll1 🤯👎

[@sitahsinrva]

Ive wanted something like this to come out, my favourite class was Eastern Art History growing up.

[@sasnad3]

Of all the art history you like eastern. 🤔

[@sitahsinrva]

@@sasnad3 Yes, is it so hard to understand? I majored in ART HISTORY. Its good to know the roots of what later added to our worlds cultural history. In islam Art, Religion and life all follow the same trend. One denotes another, unlike in the west where i live and everything is cheap from the begging. What part of Arts history do you like?

[@sasnad3]

@@sitahsinrva I am a sculpture major, but I loved art history. I like European Art more. AND I'd say I like Eastern muslim architecture better.

[@sasnad3]

@@sitahsinrva renaissance, baroque, post impressionism, surrealism. Bernini, Durer, Michelangelo, davinci. I mean they all have contributed to the building of human conscience

[@sasnad3]

@@sitahsinrva I'm from Lahore, Pakistan

[@antagonicohoy]

woww admiro el trabajo de Waldemar Januszczak !!! es completamente admirable, profundo, divertido, educativo, rompe-mitos, iluminador, placentero, ameno, ilustrativo, una maravilla de cultura y una obra maestra de pedagogia, asi, con la obra frente a tus ojos, una imagen habla mas que mil palabras, un buen documental como todos los de Waldemar hablan más de 1,000,000, te iluminan, y se hace la luz de la razón y la belleza. gracias a Perspective por estos maravillosos documentales. ( que bueno que existe google translate, decenas y decenas de palabras nuevas en ingles). Saludos desde México.

[@sabrina1380m]

I'm very happy that such content is available freely on KZbin, your channel is a gold mine.

[@Katiethewizard]

Thanks for uploading this awesome resource! I'm taking my content test for visual arts education soon and this definitely helped me brush up on islamic art and architecture

[@rosebud4387]

This is a great Art series. Thank you for the great insights information appreciation etc etc you give. Are you going to do a series on Asian art? Chinese art and architecture? Korean etc? that would be great thanks.

[@charlesfrederick2]

Fantastic! THANK you SO much for this Valentine morning's treat! Kudos!

[@melanieohara6941]

Divine Mathematics-what a super concept, Waldy! Thanks again.❇️

[@haifashawwa]

Thank you for this beautiful work, and for giving justice to Islamic Art.

[@mikeny5020]

💩👎

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I had hoped to see many of these places when I retired, but became quite I’ll before that happened. These wonderful videos give me a way to see so much beauty.

[@laughing-cat]

What a beautiful series. I'm enjoying these shows 100%.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Waldemar makes the best documentaries about art and art history.

[@gems34]

A delightful insight into the journey of collective spiritual aspirations during the dark ages, lifting the veil of dogma through art makes history that much more human and colorful, thank you.

[@breakfastattiffanys741]

Spending my Saturday evening with the informative Waldemar, no regrets 💜 I wish to hold an astrolabe in my hands one day!!

[@leahhamdaoui7755]

Absolutely stunning photography and erudite commentary !!!! More please !

[@mdrasheduzzaman5139]

Very interesting perspective..early use of recycling in the Tunisian mosque

[@Survivor-mf1nm]

I absolutely LOVE this series!!! ❤

[@crustycobs2669]

Great tour, fabulous architecture and Islamic artwork

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

This might be my favorite video in this series!

[@lynnblack6493]

Dark ages never the same for me. Perfect learning experience.

[@henrykmichaelfantazos]

The real "dark ages" are now.The Modern Art killed art.

[@AriannaAyers]

Riveting! The children are spellbound! Grandmother, the retired professor, and art critic, believes in the accuracy of the programming. Great job in the casting choice.😊

[@emmanueldonnelly5792]

Thank you very much for this marvellous program which reminded me my courses of Islamic arts at university.

[@stephanieraihana5704]

Thank you for delightful video...

[@reefmohammad5374]

Astrolabe come from the word Astrulabi the lasname of Maryam bint Al Astrulabi syrian Muslim women scientist work in golden age of islam during the abbasid caliphate era

[@nvoid2597]

Nice

[@vivalapalestine7235]

Great vid Love Islamic architecture

[@jamespotter1990]

He is awesome. I've learned lots from this guy.

[@oracle_2010]

From now on, dont call it the dark age. Call it the age of light.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Very Instructive, Bravo ! Happy New Year 2024 !

[@fahdhussein6760]

Aaaah Waldemar... You're a sheer delight to follow around the web... May you and yours be blessed forever 😎🙏

[@sjurjans7137]

Beautiful... unbelievably skilled artists

[@spideywhiplash]

I found the same type of paradise when I moved from the desert to the subtropics.🤔🌴🌊🍖🌺🌻🍝🌳⛅🍇🍍🧀🍉🌦️🥑🍦💧

[@claudettedelphis6476]

Thank you for another great art class 🌷

[@marrickvillian]

Excellent documentary.

[@43painter]

Great doc. ! Again I've learned a lót. Thank you for charing. I wonder what the total of traveling costs were at the end of this series. Paid by Channel Four ? Ps: often one sees a presenter showing us viewers an extremely old and precious book and telling about it while (s)he's turning the pages ....withóut wearing glóves.

[@rbzvncnt]

Never wear gloves with old books! Your touch isn't as sensitive and you will tear the pages faster wearing gloves... wear gloves when you handle other artifacts on which you could leave fingerprints :)

[@shakespearaamina9117]

Just fascinating ❤️

[@iyeiself-lordandmasterer4888]

I like your name.

[@cptn5141]

The Islamic art is the Arab ,Persian,roman art that have been transformed to an amazing art

[@d.c.8828]

Awesome documentary!

[@josephbrink278]

Everytime Waldemar makes a documentary I get sucked In and have to watch it lol

[@cskarbek1]

"but sometimes i should just shut up!" love that quote! and when he says "borrowing" as it pertains to all the columns in the mosque, is it a lend-lease program or did the Arab just plain out and out steal them? curious monologue

[@demitasse22]

Curious indeed

[@ademali8199]

You wouldn't understand, he's talking about people of the book

[@outlandishyute8528]

Islam is the most logical, practical and most just religion in my humble opinion. 💯💔🇸🇴

[@skanderibnziyad8702]

Very very béautifull islamic civilisation And humanity With peace.

[@bugibugati8542]

i hate islam it was a mistake

[@MasterGoogleWay]

@@bugibugati8542 and so is your life

[@esset436]

A Coptic Egyptian build and designed the rock of Dom in case you wonder..

[@Trp44]

A bouffet of the most intoxicating bits of true art.

[@jomama5186]

Ooo I love their art !

[@offthewall9988]

If that brazier at 22:15 was lit, what would the shadows cast on walls have looked like? If the crystal ewers at 46:15 were full of wine and backlit?

[@doreekaplan6782]

This man is GREAT fun to watch...........good way to learn art history that seemed unlearnable in college; to me anyway, back in the 60s

[@contentweaverz2438]

In our elementary schools we are taught that Abacus was the first computer and not even a grazing mention of Astrolab anywhere.

[@TreadwayArts]

The best art history I I ever seen,

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting.

[@hamzashinwary4215]

We're in the golden age of dark ages.

[@robertmorris2388]

The astrolabe was used during the time of the library at Alexandria for telling time Among other things, so I doubt that it was invented in the middle ages.

[@beakeeper5243]

Could it be that they "invented" their version of it? Genuinely asking

[@whitedomerobert]

@@beakeeper5243 Well of course it’s not likely anyone put out an international patent restricting its use. It’s primarily use WAS for casting horoscopes, finding your location as well as many other astronomical, mathematical, geographic and geometric uses. Hypatia was killed accused by extremist Christians of witchcraft, torn limb from limb for use of the Astrolabe and for her knowledge, in the libraries of Alexandria.

[@v.ra.]

Waldemar Januszczak is is for art history what Carl Sagan was for astronomy.

[@zsofiamolnar5292]

Very well done !

[@innallaahaamaassaabireen5209]

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبَيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ وَعَلىٰ آلِهِ (مـا أنـا عـلـيـه و أصـحـابـي) وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلِّمْ تَسْلِيمًا ﷺ ( إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً) سورة الأحزاب Verse 56 Blessings of ALLAH be upon Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam and the progeny of our Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA SAIYYEDINA MUHAMMADIN NOORIL ANWARI WA SIRRIL ASRARI WA SAIYYEDIL ABRAR Oh ALLAH, shower thy blessings on Hazrat Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam, Who is light, actual light, mystery among the mysteries, and the leader of the excellents. ......

[@mindsoulpower]

this is like the 1001 nights ❤

[@marcpadilla1094]

I really like Arabic music.

[@antonywingham9077]

Re: the 'Nileometer' (around 33.30), I wonder if the artist M.C.Escher ever payed a trip there. If not then he certainly came to some very similar geometric conclusions

[@annsidbrant7616]

Eratosthenes of Cyrene, c. 276 BC - c. 195/194 BC, calculated the circumference of the Earth long before Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Kathīr al-Farghānī.

[@amoohabib8845]

All those art was lost or destroyed before dark ages which was Islam Golden age,that cannot be denied.

[@faribamirshahi9333]

Dear Waldemar, I very much enjoyed your documentary, however, again I see some miss information one is the dark ages computer that you introduced, it was made by Omar khayyam, he is known only as a poet in west but he was a grand Mathamatison and Astronomer 900 years ago. He made it with multiple use ( a compus, ...) One of its use that It was made to give a correct calander that makes Persian calander the most accurate calander in experience In IRANIAN calander year changes to the second(ex. Year changes at March 21 at 19:36:56 sec) it was not made for praying. I appreciate if you correct this at least. Thanks for your beautiful documentaries

[@faribamirshahi9333]

Sorry I meant the most accurate calander in existence is IRANIAN calander 👍😀

[@user-lz1tz7um5w]

That had nothing to do with calender lol it's a compass

[@mohd.javedmansoori8722]

Thank you brother for your hard work and research.

[@lastranger]

THANK YOU SO MUCH IS THE ONLY WORD I CAN COMMENT...

[@cskarbek1]

this is a delightful video and i am happy you posted it on youtube.... but it does prompt this question --- if arabs are so intrigued/enamored w/ flowing water, etc. why don't they leave the fricking desert? back in Mohammed's day, they didn't have oil as an economic reason ---- soooooo what the heck is the incentive for sticking around? i would have moved! as a matter of fact, now i think on it -- i did leave Arizona for that reason precisely!

[@beakeeper5243]

I'm not sure if you're kidding, apologies if so, but people born and raised in a place rarely miss what they don't know (generally speaking, although there will always be people who want to relocate or dream of something different for one reason or another). Additionally, the more rare something is the more precious and revered it becomes. If they, as a civilization, originated from a place with an abundance of water it might be that their focus would shift to a more precious and scarce resource. In a similar way you could imagine the price for diamonds would undoubtedly drop if they grew on trees by the dozen haha!

[@peacock69mcp]

The thing with Islam is that it keeps on changing it's standard narrative and keeps on making new set of narratives.

[@yxuokikalipe]

Is that zurna playing at 28:03?

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I was 20 when that dam went up…I was horrified and even grief stricken over the lost art…I had admired Nassar until that dam went up, though now I understand the need for water. I do wonder what it’s impact will be when climate change really hits.

[@SunlightHugger]

Fascinatingly beautiful, but I do wonder... is "Islamic times" a thing? I assume that since Muslims are still very much around, it's a bit weird to refer to "those times" as if they are gone. Maybe I'm misunderstanding?

[@eggyegg7424]

The perspective of the islam and perspective on architecture and art has changed a lot. Just as all religions changed over time.

[@TheJoan48]

Hey everybody! There's lots of comments here about a load of ads in this video. To end that go to the menu in the upper right of chrome and select more tools. Then select extensions. Then select adblock for you tube. One small ad will appear in the beginning and then NO MORE ADS for the entire video! Thank me now! LOL

[@Palmieres]

No, don't do that. Ads are there so the content creator gets some money. If you disable the ads KZbin still gets the money from sponsors and the creators get nothing. You're watching this for free. The least you could do to reward and thank the content creator is let the stupid ads run. If not all, let at least one or two of them run. It's a few seconds, ffs.

[@Cosmicsurfpro]

@@Palmieres do you really think the people complaining about the ads care if the creator gets more money? FFS.. .

[@larspardo4309]

brilliant series on art - thank you so much for sharing...wish more muslims would watch this particular show......Is it an accident that the stairs at 34:21 look so much like the inspiration to M C Escher Relativity & stairs series?

[@v.ra.]

For the crystal vessels, how is it possible to carve in this bulbous shape from such a small opening at the neck? Can't visualise it

[@k.m.virginia7523]

I love this guys videos, he is brilliant, but I can't watch this.

[@MJ-hg1mk]

Define history. 😎 I'm just glad I've lived long enough to see the beginning of the end of the judeo christian hegemony of too much of the globe.

[@evelyne7071]

Excellent !

[@semsamatanovic5296]

SUBHANALLAHU VE ELHAMDULILLAHI....LA IL LAHE IL ALLAHU VE ALLAHU AKBAR....

[@yqwpl]

48:57 Oh Dios mío. ¡las combinaciones de Dios.

[@oltedders]

Haraam al Sharif IS NOT located on the temple mount. It is the site of the Roman garrison.

[@Daughterofminerva]

The Arabs had an exquisite taste in architecture,no one can doubt it.

[@HHH78709]

If i could only find the background music for this documentary

[@ibrahimkalmati9379]

Well to Islamic art where geometry meets architecture and their marriage officiates by non other than mathematics himself. art itself inspired by Devin revelation.

[@frederickmorris2218]

I mentioned to my design students that the Dome of the Rock was the earliest example of Islamic architecture. One of my Iranian students insisted that the form was derived from the Zoroastrian Fire Temple. It seems a reasonable possibility. Anyone know more about this?

[@christophermorgan3261]

A dome covered quadrangle is Greek and Roman in origin, it's called classicism, and copied by everyone up to the present.

[@tropicalstrings]

The dome of the Rock was a church build on a much older pagan temple. Doe Under is a water source Ask dr Jay Smith.

[@tropicalstrings]

nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotskoepel dome was a chuch. And parhaps centuries before pagan temples as it has a waterwell.

[@user-ci9te3yt6t]

@@tropicalstrings Are you saying the the Dome of the Rock wasn't totally built by Muslims from tip to toe?.

[@enrico7474]

@@tropicalstrings u need help

[@origamiandcats6873]

The measurement "well" looks like an echer painting.

[@cptn5141]

I likelike islmic art

[@CoolGirl007]

Very Good

[@cdinlenc1]

Thanks!

[@janusatthegate6201]

The reason the Dark Ages are called that is because it was ruled by religion rather than open reason as in Greece. Doesn't mean there was no thought, just that it was more driven by superstition.

[@danyelnicholas]

Whilst Islam has instigated an overwhelming revolution in the fields of writing (including, of course, calligraphy), music, sciences, medicine, engineering and even---much later---(by adopting Chinese brush techniques), painting, concepts like "the holy rock where Muhammad ascended to heaven" are indeed dark age and embarrassing and the building on top of this site is an abomination with centuries of ever declining taste patching up indiscriminately the remains of a modest structure probably built by Byzantine architects. It is also nonsensical to trash Herod's temple when it was so utterly destroyed by the Romans that we really have no idea what it looked like.

[@itacirgabral8586]

It reminds me of the game "soul reaver legacy of kain"

[@user-ke8st8jc1v]

Nowadays are the real “Dark Ages “

[@somayaelbostany-7088]

جميل جميل بالتوفيق

[@mariagunnarsQ17]

Another seemingly great Perspective documentary ruined by adverts every 2-5 minutes.

[@desden154]

Yes, the series is great, but I had to stop watching because of the relentless ads.

[@TheJoan48]

@J C One small ad in the begining is all I had. I went to extensions and turned on adblock for youtube, plus chrome. Anyone can do it.

[@nvoid2597]

Cast it to a TV and you won't have ads.

[@Davidsavage8008]

To all those that gave their life to war over their nations fallen angels they believe to be their god ",may they return to a good family in their nation. And the children that gave their lives for America to preserve America in the creator God Name principals and the values of his only begotten son ," may they return to a GREAT family that naturally complement each other. ............

[@issith7340]

Domr of the rock: absolute byzantine art.