Literature was a strong tradition in Arabia before Islam. Islam introduced new themes to this literature. Early Muslim poets sang the praises of the Prophets and of Islam.
As Islam expanded, Muslims entered regions that had rich artistic traditions, and they modified these traditions. Islam forbade the depiction of living beings, so many artists turned to calligraphy or expressed themselves through the decorative arts, such as textiles and ceramics.
In architecture, you may see the greatest cultural blending of the Muslim world. The Great Mosque of Damascus in Syria was built over a Christian dome, blended Byzantine architecture with Muslim ideas. In Syrian areas, the architecture included features that were Roman. The mosque at Cordoba displayed the innovation of 2 levels of interwoven arches.
