AP Art History UNIT 7: West and Central Asia, 500 BCE–1980 CE Practice Exam

1. The *Ardabil Carpet* is a masterpiece of Safavid art, renowned for its immense size and intricate design. Which of the following technical aspects of its creation allowed for the high level of detail found in its curvilinear floral patterns and central medallion?

2. The *Basin (Baptistère de Saint Louis)*, created by the Mamluk artist Muhammad ibn al-Zain, demonstrates exceptional skill in metalwork. The intricate figures and animals covering the surface were created using which of the following techniques?

3. In the *Great Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh)* of Isfahan, the addition of glazed ceramic tiles to the brick iwans in later centuries served primarily to:

4. The folio *The Court of Gayumars* from the *Shah Tahmasp Shahnama* exemplifies the mastery of the workshop of Sultan Muhammad. Which combination of materials was essential to the creation of this manuscript painting?

5. Calligraphy is the most highly regarded art form in the Islamic world because it is the vehicle for transmitting the word of God. In early Qur'ans, such as the folio from the Abbasid period, what material preparation was necessary before the calligrapher could begin writing?

6. The plan of the Great Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh) of Isfahan reflects the integration of religious and urban life in Iran primarily through its

7. The presence of figural imagery in 'Bahram Gur Fights the Karg', a folio from the Great Il-Khanid Shahnama, is permissible within its cultural context because the work

8. The Bamiyan Buddhas demonstrated the influence of the Silk Road on West and Central Asian art through their stylistic synthesis of

9. Which of the following best explains how the Kaaba functions as the focal point of Islamic worship?

10. The design of the Ardabil Carpet, specifically the inclusion of two lamps of different sizes, suggests that the carpet was originally intended to be viewed

11. The Basin (Baptistère de Saint Louis), created by Muhammad ibn al-Zain, features dense bands of figural imagery including hunters, animals, and Mongol warriors. The presence of these figures indicates that the work was originally intended for which of the following contexts?

12. The colossal Buddha figures at Bamiyan, destroyed in 2001, demonstrated the transmission of cultural ideas along the Silk Road through their stylistic integration of traditional Indian Buddhist iconography with

13. The Ilkhanid manuscript folio 'Bahram Gur Fights the Karg' reflects the cultural exchange between the Persian court and East Asia during the Mongol period through which of the following visual characteristics?

14. The Great Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh) of Isfahan is architecturally significant for its evolution away from the earlier hypostyle plan toward a new layout that became standard in Iran. This layout is defined by

15. The Ardabil Carpet is believed to have been created as a matched pair for the shrine of Safi al-Din Ardabili. Its high knot count allowed the weavers to create a detailed design that features