Dictionary of islamic architecture

See also:
Edirne, Ottomans, Sinan, Süleymaniye
Seljuks
Turkish dynasty which ruled much of Anatolia, Syria, Iraq,
Iran and Central Asia during the eleventh century.
The Seljuks were a division of the Kiniq clan of
Öghuz Turks who originated in the steppes north of
the Aral Sea. Originally they were hired as soldiers
to take part in the internal feuding of Khurassan and
eastern Iran. In 1038 the leader Tughril Beg gained
control of all Khurassan and had himself proclaimed
sultan at Nishapur. As Sunni Muslims the Seljuks
wanted to restore orthodoxy to the central Islamic
lands and in 1055 Tughril defeated the Sh
ia
Buwaihids who ruled from Baghdad. Further
victories followed with the defeat of the Byzantines
at Manzikert in 1071 and the defeat of the
Qarakhanids in Central Asia in the late eleventh
century. The unified Seljuk state did not last much
beyond the beginning of the twelfth century, partly
owing to its pattern of inheritance and partly because
the areas covered were too diverse.
During the twelfth century the empire broke up
into a number of independent principalities which
can be classified into three main groups: a western
group comprising Anatolia, a central group covering
Syria and Iraq, and an eastern group including Iran
and and Central Asia.
Seljuk architecture is characterized by the rapid
transmission of ideas and forms. During this period
many of the characteristic forms of Islamic architecture
become common everywhere, thus madrassas,
memorial tombs and khans were built from Central
Asia to western Anatolia. Iwans became one of the
principal architectural units and were used both for
religious and secular buildings. In Iran and the eastern
areas decorative brickwork and elaborate stucco
ornamentation are common, whilst in Anatolia these
decorative themes were translated into stone.
The homeland of Seljuk architecture was Iran,
where the first permanent Seljuk structures were
built. Unfortunately the Mongol invasions
destroyed most of these buildings and only a few
remain. In 1063 Isfahan was established as capital
of the Great Seljuk Empire under Alp Arslan and