Mashrabiya History and Spread
The history of Mashrabiya is dating back to the period when Arabs entered to Egypt, but when it first became used in particular, it is difficult to pinpoint because of the ever- evolving nature of architecture.
The British architectural historian author Briggs speculated (1974) that the origins of Mashrabiya could be found in the Coptic churches in Egypt. In a detailed explanation by the French Egyptologist Maspero (1914), (Manual of Egyptian Archaeology and Guide to the Study of Antiquities in Egypt) he discusses the process of the development of Mashrabiya and he points out that the Mashrabiya began to flourish during Tulunid era (868- 905) where they used a considerable amount of wood in their buildings, and Arab manufacturers benefited at the beginning of the industry, from the experience of the Copts, who were excellent woodworkers.
This wood work was inherited by Copts from the ancient Egyptians who used the wood for their doors and to build the roofing of their houses. The growth of Mashrabiya construction continued during the Abbasid era (750-1258), especially during the time of the Ayyubid (1171-1250) (Figures 2.6 - 2.7).
Figure2.6:Two views of an amazing Mashrabiya in Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain(Hornsby,2014)
Thereafter, during the Mamluk era (1250-1517) the Mashrabiya industry grew and flourished artistically. The small screen openings, whether made of fine-tuned wood or shading louvers with geometric shapes, allow the women to gaze outside and to be both unseen and unheard. If communication is required, most Mashrabiya, especially Egyptian ones, have smaller windows that can be opened upwards (Maspero,1914).
Figure 2.7: Two Mashrabiyas with small windows that can be opened at Alsuhaimi House,in Cairo, Egypt (1648)(Kalpana,2011)
The privacy requirement was a core value of the Islamic religion, so the Mashrabiya had widespread popularity throughout history, especially during the Islamic Ottoman era (1517-c1805), and it also continued later in various Arab regions, helping to adorn the streets, by giving it a beautiful artistic character (Maspero,1974). It should be mentioned that (Figures2.8-28)in this chapter are documented according to the chronology of the spread of Mashrabiya.
