[James C. Bennett]

There needs to be a further rationale for calling art collections from lands conquered or subdued by the forces of Islam "Islamic Art."

Without a doubt. If there were really such a thing as "Islamic" art, it would have had common characteristics throughout the geography of their infestation. Yet, we do not see anything like that. Arabic architecture is nothing more than what German, British and Indian architects have created in places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and Persian architecture is based on their pre-Islamic cultural heritage.

The Taj Mahal, their ultimate false claim to fame, is heavily based on Indian Hindu temple architecture:

[<1/1,000,000th%]

And built by Indians.

[cripplecreek]

As I understand it, “islamic” art doesn’t contain images of people or animals.

[ml/nj]

Another one is the Court of the Lions in the Alhambra in Grenada, Spain.

My understanding is that it was designed by a Jew as Islam forbids the representation of animals.

ML/NJ

[odds]

Lots of photos at links (scroll down).

Pre and Post Islam Persian Architecture -- Persian Gardens -- Sassanid Architecture -- Vaulted Hall Eyvan

Examples, The Spiral Fire Temple tower is the architectural precedent of the Great Mosque of Samarra (photo at 3rd link). The round Domes we see on top of mosques in fact dates back to Sassanid architecture & dome-shaped structures inside and outside buildings in Iran (pictures below are based on Sassanid pre-Islamic architecture)

Also, pre-Islamic Persian Gardens (photos below are current ones in Shiraz, Iran), during the Achaemenid Dynasty (dynasty founded by Cyrus the Great) were known as pairidaēza (Avestan) - paridaida (Old Persian), and in Median *paridaiza- (walled-around, i.e., a walled garden)- the English word "Paradise" is derived from the original Avestan & Persian words.

The pre-Islamic style & architecture also heavily influenced those found in Southern Spain, e.g. Andalucia region and in cities such as Cordoba, Granada and Seville.

[1010RD]

The Islamic dome was stolen from the engineering and artistic design of Byzantine Christians.

[little jeremiah]

I’ve read it was a Shiva temple.