Iraq & China: Ceramics, Trade and Innovation online exhibit and texts about the long-term exchange in ceramic techniques, technologies and styles between Southwest Asia and the Far East, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.
Encompassing the Globe, an exhibit with text and Google Earth interactive features on trade across the oceans during the first global era, 1500-1800.
Smithsonian Institution Freer and Sackler Galleries Arts of the Islamic World: A Teacher’s Guide features lessons created by fine arts teachers based on objects from the galleries, with historical background, information, and cultural features. The pdf format is 2-color printed, while the version for purchase includes color art cards with the featured objects. See also the 3-part Arts of Buddhism and Puja on Hinduism on the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Education resource page .
A new series called Art Through Time: A Global View by Annenberg Media (Lerner.org) is an interactive site with themes and videos that help students understand the connections among cultures in various genres of art, including objects intended and not intended to be “art.” Very attractive and sophisticated teaching resource.
National Gallery of Art Artistic Exchange Brochure , National Gallery, Washington DC and companion Lesson Guide traces the evidence of trade, stylistic exchange and influence between Europe and the “Islamic World” based on the art historical scholarship of Rosamond Mack, author of From Bazaar to Piazza (University of California Press, 2001). A related exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is Venice and the Islamic World .
Archnet Digital Library a global collection of images and information on significant Islamic architecture, is part of Archnet, an international online community for architects, planners, urban designers, landscape architects, conservationists, and scholars, with a focus on Muslim cultures and civilizations. It was “developed at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning in close cooperation with, and with the full support of The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture is a private, non-denominational, international development agency with programmes dedicated to the improvement of built environments in societies where Muslims have a significant presence.”
An article on Art History that provides an overview of the western art traditions from the ancient Near East to the twentieth century is found at http://fyifly.com/resource-guide-to-art-history/ .
