Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Abbie Childs 
December 16,2013
World History, H Block 
I Pledge: ACE 
         Islamic and Byzantine Coins 
Intro Paragraph:
Different cultures have different forms of currency. Some forms of currency have originated from other forms while other forms are completely original. In the time period of the Byzantine and Islamic Empires coins were the most common form of currency. Based on images of the coins found from this time period we can see that the coins from the Islamic culture originated from the Byzantine Empire and that the Byzantine coins are original for all practical purposes. By using the library guide provided for us I was able to find a website, under the online resources tab titled Trade and Commercial Activity in the Byzantine and Early Islamic Middle East. On the top of the page there was an image bar that led to additional information on certain topics. I was able to find pictures of the coins I was looking for to use as my primary sources and by clicking on the image I was redirected to a site with an image of the coin itself as well as background information and a description of that particular coin. By reading the Byzantine coin page I found out just how important coins are to our community. Coins help us to understand what went on during the time the coins existed such as the government, around what time period the coins were made, and how they were made. Coins also show what the people of that time believed by what they have on them and what they say. On the other website I learned that the Byzantine coin, the solidus, was used for a template in the making of the Islamic coin, the dinar. However, in the end, the final coin looked nothing like the one it was modeled after. The dinar went from a coin with images of highly respected people in the community and idols on both sides to only words. There were no pictures on the coins from that point on whatsoever.  

Gold Dinar

                         Gold Solidus


Outline:
Paragraph #1- the solidus
     1.     The Byzantine coin, the Solidus, was first made in Constantinople under the reign of Phocas.
a.     Front side:
                                                             i.      Bearded emperor
                                                           ii.      Cross
                                                        iii.      Crown
                                                        iv.      No characteristics that stand out
b.     Reverse side:
                                                             i.      Angel
                                                           ii.      “Winged Victory”
                                                        iii.      Symbols of Christ
c.      Gold
d.     2.1 X 0.1 cm
     2.     Coins don’t always have to be original, however, many of the coins today are based off of the ones from many, many, many generations ago.

Paragraph #2: Dinar paragraph  
1.     The Islamic coin, the Dinar, was based off of the Byzantine and Sasanian coins in the beginning but when everything was said and done there was hardly any resemblance at all.
a.     Front and back
                                                                         i.      No pictures
                                                                       ii.      No symbols
                                                                    iii.      Only words
                                                                    iv.      Legends were written around the edge
                                                                       v.      Written horizontally across the center of the coin ere
b.     People prohibited names on the coins
                                                                         i.      Even very wealthy and well known people
c.      Abbasid caliph al Ma’mun
                                                                         i.      Created coin
d.     2.1cm
2.     Even though the original idea can be great there is always room for improvement no matter how good it sounds at the time.

Paragraph #3: comparison paragraph
1.     Although change often messes everything up, it just as often makes things better.
a.     Then….
                                                                         i.      Sizes are similar
                                                                       ii.      Both are gold
                                                                    iii.      Dinar started out with crosses and figures of importance on both sides
                                                                    iv.      Their names are different
b.     Now….
                                                                         i.      Sizes still similar
                                                                       ii.      Both are gold
                                                                    iii.      One has images on each side
                                                                    iv.      One has only words
                                                                       v.      Names are different
                 2. Even when things change it doesn't mean they aren't similar or related in any kind of way. It just means they are unique with nothing to holding them back.

MLA BIBLIOGRAPHY!!!
Khalili, Nasser D. Islamic Art and Culture: A Visual History. Woodstock: Overlook, 2006. 26, 28, 154-155. Print. 

"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Gold [Syria] (99.35.2386). N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/99.35.2386

Gold Coin of Abd Al-Malik. Digital image. British Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/g/gold_coin_of_abd_al-malik.aspx


"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Solidus [Early Byzantine] (04.35.3356). N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/04.35.3356
"The Development of the Byzantine Solidus." The Development of the Byzantine Solidus. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. http://www2.lawrence.edu/dept/art/BUERGER/ESSAYS/BYZANT.HTML


Byzantinesolidus and Its Islamicimitation. Digital image. British Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.

No comments:

Post a Comment