Istanbul and Isfahan were the capital cities of the two early-modern Muslim empires of the Ottomans (1299-1923) and the Safavids (1501-1722). They were also home to significant architectural monuments and art collections that were established by or at the behest of the two ruling dynasties. The course explores these cities as stages for the visual expressions of sovereignty through examining encounters between architecture, urbanism, patrons, and users. In so doing, it provides students with critical understanding of urban iconography focusing on the different ways in which sovereign cities play composite roles as seats of rule as well as stages of royal spectacle.

The course takes a comparative approach to the different ways in which the two empires employed urban re-configuration, architectural style, and visual symbolism as modes of self-representation and expressions of political control. Students engage with recent studies on the architecture and urbanism of Istanbul and Isfahan. They also get the opportunity to explore in-depth case studies from the two cities including palaces, mosques, gardens, and public squares. The course has no language requirement or pre-requisite courses.