The Foundations of an Antiquarian Literature for Islamic Architecture

This chapter reveals how Ambrosio de Morales' antiquarian writing on Islamic architecture, particularly the Córdoba Mosque and Madinat al-Zahra (Medina Azahara), laid foundational methods for historical research. It highlights the innovative integration of literary sources, epigraphy, and archaeological analyses—such as materials like stone, brick, and mortar—to document Islamic monuments in 16th-century Spain. Morales' work sparked a methodological debate among contemporaries like Pedro Díaz de Ribas and Gregorio López Madera, challenging classical canons and shaping antiquarian discourse. The study underscores the tension between narratives of Islamic heritage and formal research frameworks, offering insights into early antiquarian practices that bridge literature and archaeology.

Urquízar-Herrera, A. (2017). The Foundations of an Antiquarian Literature for Islamic Architecture. In (Editor), Oxford Scholarship Online. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198797456.003.0006