Architecture of Afghanistan
[1] As the connection between the three major cultural and geographic centers of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Iranian plateau, the boundaries of the region prior to this time changed with the rapid advancement of armies, with the land belonging to a vast range of empires over the last two millennia.
[1][2][4][5] With the advent of the Iron Age in Central Asia the first indications of circular city planning is evident, typical across the Iranian plateau from this point.
[1] Parts of the major historical cities such as Balkh and Kandahar have evidence of ramparts with foundations dated back to this period,[3] with characteristic mud-brick construction and towers at regular intervals.
[3] Following Alexander the Great's conquest of the region in the 4th century BC and the subsequent rule of his Seleucid generals, Hellenistic influences strengthened previously extant connections to the West.
[2][3] Although temples retained their distinct classic Buddhist form, evidence of Greek architects are extant in the decoration and layout of the structures, with sculptures being the key manifestation of Western art.
[3] The arrival of the originally nomadic Yuezhi tribes from Central Asia and establishment of Kushan Empire added a new element to the already nature of the architecture of Afghanistan as the country was turned into the center Buddhism under Kanishka the Great.
[1][3][4] Excavations of the site revealed a monumental set of stairs leading down the hillside from a Kushan temple, with these built in the first half of the 2nd century AD.
[2] There is some conjecture around the extent to which the destructive nature of the Hephthalites extended to their time in Afghanistan, although scholars agree that local Buddhist influence was not totally eliminated in this period.
[3] The iwan originated in pre-Islamic Central Asia, and saw itself incorporated into many mausoleum and mosque designs with the Islamic expansion, particularly in architecture of the later Timurid period.
[3] Another key impact of Islamic rule on the architecture in Afghanistan was the introduction of the universal religious building of the mosque, with aspects of the basic structure dictated by the religion itself.
[1] A markedly Iranian influence is notable in the subsequent Ghaznavid and Ghorid periods,[4] were tiles were arranged to form decorative inscriptions making up entire walls, a tradition later greatly developed in the Timurid era.
[2] As well as causing widespread destruction "leaving Afghanistan in ruins",[2] the coming of the Mongols halted the development of new architecture as virtually all artistic activity in the region was eliminated.
[2][5] Although subjecting the land to wars similar to those experienced under Genghis, Timur is also accredited with initiating the rebuilding of some of the regions culturally significant urban centres ruined by the Mongol conquest.
[3][5] Colors began with turquoise, white and royal blue and were followed by a myriad of shades and pigments, with these arranged into complicated and intertwining geometrical girikhs or knots.
[4] There has probably never been a period in the history of world architecture when colour and form achieve such a perfect balance of design and meaning as they did under the Timurids during the reign of Shah Rukh.Today Afghanistan is not a landscape littered with stylistic artefacts, but a true context of complexity, conflict and chaos.
[6] This also lead to limited focus on restoration and historic preservation, which were incorporated into the program at the University of Herat along with courses surrounding stone masonry and Islamic architecture.
