The Muslim Carpet and the Origin of Carpeting 1 | 2 | Next Table
of contents 1. Historical and cultural background 2. Ottoman and
Persian carpets 3. Europe before the carpet 4. The Muslim carpet
and Europe 5. Imitation of the Muslim carpet in Europe 6.
Summary and conclusion Note of the editor A first version of
this article was published on www.MuslimHeritage.com in April
2004. The present version was slightly revised and edited, and
new illustrations were added. * * *1. Historical and cultural
background Muslims regard the carpet with special esteem and
admiration. For the traditional Bedouin tribes of Arabia, Persia
and Anatolia, the carpet was at the centre of their life being
used as a tent sheltering them from the sand storms, a floor
covering providing great comfort for the household, wall
curtains protecting privacy, and useful items such as blankets,
bags, and saddles. It was indeed a resourceful inspiration to
make use of the abundant wool produced by their herds. With
Islam, another significant val