Building Descriptions - Another chance to... well I'm just lazy ok

[Miraj]

Hello,

You guessed it, I am no writer and I need your help! While I've done many already there are quite a few building descriptions left. Thus these are next on the textual chopping block and I'd like just a brief few sentence descr for each building if you don't mind. All credit will be given no doubt and of course, much much gratitude and thanks.

Here they are:

Monastery
Great Monastery

Madrassa
Great Madrassa

Silk Caravan
Silk Road
Silk Highway

The Hagia Sofia

The Kaaba

The Dome of Rock

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Mediteranean Sea Trade

Indian Ocean Sea Trade

Nizammiya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizamiyya)

[Player44]

I'll do Hagia Sophia, Dome of Rock, and Church of Holy Sepulchre.

By the way, how many words is too little or too much?

[Miraj]

Btw there really is no limit to the size of the long descr I think. So pour out your historical love on some of the buildings if you like to.

@PLAYER44

At least 3 sentences I'd say.

[Kalos]

Monastery: A monastery is a building or a complex of buildings made for living a life devoted to God. It contains living quarters, workplaces, a place for worship, and may contain other things depending on it's size. They are a development that allow monks to live close to each other and provide each other support instead of having to live in complete isolation. It is a place for individuals to commit themselves to a religious life apart from secular society. Monastic life was one of hard work and was dominated mainly by prayer.

Many monasteries sprung up during the Middle Ages and they actually became quite common. They were important to the surrounding communities and were places of learning and intellectual advancement.

[Kalos]

Silk road: The Silk Road is a web of trade routes through Asia and the Mediterranean. It stretches over more than 5,000 miles on land and sea and was immensely important in the development of all the great ancient civilizations such as Rome, Egypt, and Persia. The expansive grasslands of Asia allowed merchants to travel incredible distances.

The term "Silk road" is misleading however, since it's not as if there was one single route or road that was used. There were many possible routes passing through various settlements. The Silk Road also wasn't solely restricted to trading silk, in fact many other items were traded, from gold and ivory to exotic animals or plants. Although out of all of the commodities coming from this area, silk was probably the most valued and remarkable.


EDIT: By the way, I think my description for the Monastery is better.

[Spartan_Shame]

MONASTERY

These were establishments of monks and nuns who lived in separate quarters under the direction of an abbess or abbot. During the medieval period, monasteries were the centers of knowledge and education. They maintained schools and libraries, and were responsible for copying manuscripts. And although monasteries were founded with the idea of withdrawal from monastic life, they became a major force in the secular world of agriculture and government.

GREAT MONASTERY

Each monastery endeavoured to form an independent, self-supporting community whose monks had no need of going beyond its limits for anything. In course of time, as a monastery increased in wealth and number of inmates, it might come to form an enormous establishment, covering many acres and presenting within its massive walls the appearance of a fortified town.

MADRASSA

A madrassa literally means "a place where learning/teaching is done". Their formation can probably be traced to the early Islamic custom of meeting in mosques to discuss religious issues. At this early stage, people seeking religious knowledge tended to gather around certain more knowledgable Muslims; these informal teachers later became known as the shaykhs; and these shaykhs began to hold regular religious education sessions called majalis.

GREAT MADRASSA

During the rule of the Fatimid and Mamluk dynasties and their successor states in the medieval Middle East, many of the ruling elite founded madrassas through a religious endowment known as the waq'f. Not only was the madrassa a potent symbol of status but it was an effective means of transmitting wealth and status to their descendants. Especially during the Mamluk period, when only former slaves could assume power, the sons of the ruling Mamluk elite were unable to inherit. Guaranteed positions within the new madrasahs thus allowed them to maintain status.

NIZAMIYYAH

Nizamiyyas were the medieval institutions of Islamic higher education established by Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk in the eleventh century. Nizamiyyah institutes were the first well-organized universities in the Muslim world. The most famous and celebrated of all the nizamiyyah schools was Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad (established 1065), where Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk appointed the distinguished philosopher and theologian, al-Ghazali, as a professor

The quality of education was the highest in the Islamic world, and they were even renowned throughout Europe. They were supported financially, politically, and spiritually by the royal establishment and the elite class.

THE KAABA

Tradition goes that the Kaaba was ordained by Allah to be built in the shape of the House in Heaven called Baitul Ma’amoor. Allah in his infinite Mercy ordained a similar place on earth and Prophet Adam was the first to build this place. The Bible, in the Chapter of Genesis describes its building when God ordained Abraham to erect a Shrine for worship when Abraham was ordered to go to the Southern desert with his wife Hagera and infant son Ismael. The Old Testament describes this building as the Shrine of God at several places, but the one built at Ma’amoor is very much similar to the one at Makka. There is no doubt that it was referring to the stone built house at Makka.

Qur’an in Sura Baqra Verses 121 to 127 described it clearly that Allah had ordained his servant Ibrahim to build the Shrine there for worship of One God. During Kusayi’s time it was rebuilt and fortified. During the early years of Prophet Muhammad (SA) before he announced his ministry, the Ka’aba was damaged by floods and it was rebuilt again. When the Black stone was to be put in its place the Makkans quarrelled among themselves as to who should have the honour to place it there. They had just decided that the first comer to the quadrangle should be given the task of deciding as to who should have the honour. Muhammad (SA) came in and was assigned this task. He advised them to place the stone in a cloak and ordered the heads of each Tribe each to take an end and bring the cloak nearer the corner on the eastern side. He himself then took out the stone and placed it in its position. It has been fixed there ever since.


Hope it helps

[Miraj]

About Silk road. These "buildings" that are tied to specific regions and basically represent you encouraging and accomodating trade on the route and benefeting from it economically. So I'd like more relevent game-wise details (ie buidling the X will boost your Y and so and so).

[Kalos]

Bleh, fine. Here's an updated version.

Silk road: The Silk Road is a web of trade routes through Asia and the Mediterranean. It stretches over more than 5,000 miles on land and sea and was immensely important in the development of all the great ancient civilizations such as Rome, Egypt, and Persia. The expansive grasslands of Asia allowed merchants to travel incredible distances.

The term "Silk Road" is misleading however, since it's not as if there was one single route or road that was used. There were many possible routes passing through various settlements. The Silk Road also wasn't solely restricted to trading silk, in fact many other items were traded, from gold and ivory to exotic animals or plants. Although out of all of the commodities coming from this area, silk was probably the most valued and remarkable.

Building on the Silk Road will vastly increase the income of the settlement and greatly increase the variety of goods that can be traded there. Settlements that are on the silk road should be guarded carefully, as they are undoubtedly very sought after, and losing it can drastically hurt your economy.

[Player44]

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, is what the Christians view as the most Holy building, and is located in what they view as one of the most Holy cities. Within it lies the Tomb of Christ, and on the land it is built is where Jesus Christ himself was crucified. Thus, Christians across the whole world have done pilgrimages to the city, as well as the church. Built by Emperor Constantine the Great, who also ordered the building of another great Christian site, the sepulcher originated as a small little rocky rise, and was turned into a huge temple, with many altars and other places of worship. The primary custodians, of Catholic, Greek, and Armenian faith, hold the main responsibilities of the church, while other Christians do the more minor ones. The Church is the main reason, or perhaps pretext, to capture and hold Jerusalem for the Crusaders, and it would strike a deadly blow to Christian faith if this site was destroyed…

The Hagia Sophia is perhaps the most beautiful building in the world, a masterpiece of Roman architecture and genius. Rebuilt some times, the current building was ordered by Justinian the Great, who would reconquer a short lived new Roman Empire. The Church itself contains an iconostasis, and the Church is the religious center for Orthodox Christianity. Though the Church, like many large buildings, suffered damage from fire, earthquakes and men, it still stands today, majestic as ever. Mosaics and relics make this building one of the holiest places on earth to Christianity, and the Byzantines must guard the Church, lest it be desecrated and turned into a Mosque….

The Dome of Rock is a building that the Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike consider one of the holiest places of all time. And like most holy places, it is located in Jerusalem. Within it contains a rock, which Muslims and Jews venerate. To Muslims it was there that Muhammad had ascended into a journey to heaven with Gabriel. To Jews, it was upon this stone that showed Abraham’s faith to god in the willingness sacrifice of his own son. To Christians, the spot where the dome was made originally housed the Church of The Holy Wisdom. It is, as the name implies, a massive dome and was ordered by Abd Al-Malik ibn Marwan. Though the Christians occupy Jerusalem, this holy building is one of the main reasons, or pretexts to retake Jerusalem.

Edit: Feel free to correct any historical errors.

[Kalos]

and the Byzantines must guard the Church, lest it be desecrated and turned into a Mosque….

Ahaha, I love that, it just makes the entire description so much better. Great job.

[IrAr]

You might want to mention the Church of the Resurrection's/Holy Sepulchre's pan-Christianity custodians/rights. Catholic, Greek and Armenian Christians form the majority, but I believe many others (Georgians for example) have their own parts.

[Ermeni]

You might want to mention the Church of the Resurrection's/Holy Sepulchre's pan-Christianity custodians/rights. Catholic, Greek and Armenian Christians form the majority, but I believe many others (Georgians for example) have their own parts.

yeah the primary custodians of the church was the catholic, Armenian apostolic and Greek orthodox church......nowadays the Coptic, Ethiopian and Syriac orthodox churches also have some responsibilities......

damn sorry for the doubblepost

[Sh3rpa]

Just a quick note,

The description of the dome of the rock,

It is NOT where Abraham "sacrificed his son"

it is the place of "The Binding", where God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Or Ishmael if your muslim.... lets not start). Abraham of course had problems with this idea (geeee i wonder why) but being the guy that he was, decided why not.

God, seeing Abrahams devotion, renewed his promise to "make his descendants as numerous as the stars", and gave him a lamb to sacrifice in the place of his son. This is known as the binding, when God and Abraham bound themselves to one another.

I'd be happy to grammar/spell/edit the ones your "keeping". I am a college grad english whiz who hates grammatical errors. grrrrrr.

Mirage or someone plz message me or reply in this thread, i'll definitely be playing, and would love to eliminate those errors, for my own sanity if nothing else.

[Player44]

Just a quick note,

The description of the dome of the rock,

It is NOT where Abraham "sacrificed his son"

it is the place of "The Binding", where God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Or Ishmael if your muslim.... lets not start). Abraham of course had problems with this idea (geeee i wonder why) but being the guy that he was, decided why not.

God, seeing Abrahams devotion, renewed his promise to "make his descendants as numerous as the stars", and gave him a lamb to sacrifice in the place of his son. This is known as the binding, when God and Abraham bound themselves to one another.

I'd be happy to grammar/spell/edit the ones your "keeping". I am a college grad english whiz who hates grammatical errors. grrrrrr.

Mirage or someone plz message me or reply in this thread, i'll definitely be playing, and would love to eliminate those errors, for my own sanity if nothing else.

Ah yeah forgot that. Changed it.

[Ieuano]

good descriptions guys! top stuff

[jermagon]

Mirage Why you didn't include the Mosque of the Prophet in medina it's the second holy place for Muslims after The Kaaba,and prophet Muhammed's shrine lies in this mosque,it's even holier than the aqsa mosque in Jerusalem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masjid_al-Nabawi

[Ermeni]

yeah that should be in.....^^

[IrAr]

The word 'covenant', interchangeable with binding contract/agreement, is more commonly used.
I did not know about Medina, thanks, Jermagon!

[Sosobra]

Indian Ocean Trade - I think sea trade is a bit redundant.

Slaves from Africa , exotics from the far east , and the words of the Prophet himself flow through the Indian Ocean. Arab and Indian traders reaped great wealth sailing their dhows along the coast of the Indian ocean and so shall your empire. But beware for just as great wealth flows from the waters of the Indian Ocean so too lurks the dangers of the Far East, make sure to keep an eye on the number of rats on board your ships.....

This building represents a large investment in sea trade in terms of infrastructure , merchant ship construction and trade agreements occurring along the Indian Ocean. By encouraging trade and protecting merchents from pirates you stand to make a large profit from taxes and tariffs.

Vast is the Indian Ocean and vast shall be the wealth you acquire.

[Ahiga]