AP Art History : Identifying artists, works, or schools of architecture in global Islamic traditions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Architecture In Global Islamic Traditions

The __________ was a basilica church that was converted into a mosque in 1453 following the Ottoman invasion of Turkey.

An image of the building is shown below.

File:Hagia Sophia Cathedral.jpg

Possible Answers:

Crystal Mosque

Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet

Sistine Chapel

Wazir Khan Mosque

Correct answer:

Hagia Sophia

Explanation:

This is an image of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.

It was first a Greek Basilica church under Constantine and converted to a Mosque when the Turks invaded and occupied Istanbul in 1453.

This is the only answer choice that fits the historical context of being converted to a mosque in this region (Istanbul, Turkey/Greece). Though the Blue Mosque is in Istanbul, it was built after the occupation.

Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hagia_Sophia_Cathedral.jpg

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors