These two styles gave rise to a multitude of others. ... Every corner of the far-flung Muslim empire had its own style, reflecting its culture and tastes. ... Script, omnipresent not only on monuments but also on clothing, crockery and furniture, was the premier visual art form of the Islamic city - representations of "beings with souls" having fallen into disrepute. ... The second line of development was the calligrapher's own imagination. ... There was a style for poetry, one for treaties and contracts, one for finance, one for defense and so on. ...

• Word Count: 2239
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School