Islamic art is the art of a civilization based on the Islamic religion. People that follow the teachings of Islam call themselves Muslims. Arab Muslims began a series of conquests in the 600's and united all the countries they conquered into a single civilization. The Arabs themselves had very little art, but during their conquests came in contact with the flourishing art of Persia, Syria, and Egypt. The Muslims blended these cultural influences and developed their own distinctive form of art now known as Islamic art. Islamic art was in its prime between the years 800 through 1700.

The major practices of Islamic art were, and still are; metalwork, pottery, painting, calligraphy and rugs. All of these art forms are brought together in the finest quality in the mosques, the Muslim house of worship. Though not as prominant as the other art forms, the Muslims were also experts in beautiful book decorations, (mainly for the Koran) and bindings. The cover of the Koran and other books are sometimes decorated with gold stamps.