Having its foundation in the remote heart of the Arabian Peninsula, such was Islam's growth that within a century it had come to dominate lands from the Atlantic to India. Across this vast and disparate territory, Islam became a truly global religion, taking root among a hugely diverse range of peoples and cultures. "Treasures of Islam" presents a vivid portrait of the cultural heritage of Islam and its great treasures - an illuminating commentary places the creations of Muslim craftspeople in the appropriate geographical, historical and artistic contexts and explains the significance of the faith's use of colour and texture, through calligraphy, sculpture, architecture and many other art forms. Although Islam is the most recent of the major monotheistic traditions to have emerged, it has produced one of the most glorious cultural legacies of any of the great faiths. For more than a millennium Islam's faithful followers have created a rich legacy of sacred art and architecture, from lucid religious texts to some of the most spiritually uplifting buildings ever constructed.
