The model for building mosques was Muhammad’s house in Medina, constructed in the 7th century. After his death, mosques became important symbols of Islam. During the Middle Ages, they were built wherever Arabs settled.

They spread quickly throughout northern Africa and Southern Europe, as far as Spain. By the 15th century, Islam had spread to Asia, where it became the dominant religion on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. During the Ottoman Empire Turks converted to Islam and many great mosques were built in Istanbul and other cities. With the Muslim population spreading to the Balkans, mosques have become widespread in many cities and towns in Greece, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia.



The Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Rev Stan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Prophet's Mosque in Medina
Muhammad Mahdi Karim (GFDL 1.2 or FAL), via Wikimedia Commons



Words

  • century = a period of a hundred years
  • construct= build
  • convert = change to
  • dominant = most important ; number one
  • Ottoman Empire = large empire with its center in Turkey; it consisted of large parts of the Middle East, Northern Africa and the southeastern part of Europe; it started in the 13th century and lasted until World War I
  • settle = to start living in a new place
  • spread = move to
  • throughout = to all of
  • widespread = common, popular