- Islam originated in the 7th century Arabia and was founded by the prophet Muhammad. His message resonated strongly with Arabs and the religion spread widely across North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Spain, India, and Central Asia. - The chief building for Muslim worship is the mosque. Early mosques were influenced by Roman and Byzantine architecture and incorporated elements like hypostyle prayer halls with arched colonnades. - Over time, Islamic architecture developed distinctive features like domes, minarets, mihrabs, and intricate decorative elements including calligraphy, mosaic tiles, and muqarnas vaulting. Major historic mosques were built in places like Jerusalem, Syria, Tunisia, Andalusia