A mosque rises above the city, the small, ordered domes of the compound surrounding the enormous central dome of the prayer hall and towering minaret.  How was such a structure built? By whom? And why? As he describes the construction of a fictional but typical Ottoman mosque of the late sixteenth century, acclaimed author and artist David Macaulay reveals that a mosque was just one part of a much larger complex of buildings.  While the mosque served the spiritual and religious needs of the community, the surrounding buildings provided education, food for its students and the needy, a place for commerce, lodging for travelers, and even public baths.  Planning and building a complex of structures to serve such diverse purposes was no easy task, but here David Macaulay describes the process clearly, demonstrating each step with his spectacular illustrations.

Following in the tradition he established with his first book, Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction, and in the many books he has published in the thirty years since, David Macaulay has provided explanations of the how and the why in a way that his both accessible and entertaining.  From the pyramids of Egypt to the skyscrapers of New York City, man's great architectural and engineering accomplishments have been demystified through David Macaulay's superb illustrations and lucid text, enhancing his readers' ability to understand, appreciate, and enjoy them.  His books have earned numerous awards and accolades, including a Caldecott Medal and two Caldecott Honors, and many fans around the globe.  Now, with Mosque, David Macaulay turns his talents toward the magnificent structures of the Ottoman Empire.

From the dust jacket