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Originally a humble Turkic tribe, the Seljuks built a powerful and culturally productive empire stretching from Central Asia to the eastern Mediterranean and ruled the Islamic world from the 11th to the 14th centuries. Palace and Cosmos: The Great Age of the Seljuks examines the origins and influence of this formidable dynasty, featuring some 250 objects that are testament to the artistic and cultural revival that took place under Seljuk rule. After presenting a general history of the empire from its early advances in Iran and northern Iraq to its expansion into Anatolia and northern Syria, Palace and Cosmos reveals the splendor of Seljuk court life. This opulent lifestyle was extended to a new class of elites with refined tastes, and urbanites as well as sultans acquired dazzling glazed ceramics and metalwork inlaid with silver, copper and gold. The growing interest in the book arts, which paralleled advances in science and technology, was a sign of the importance the Seljuks attached to science and literature. However, the unrest caused by wars between the Seljuks and their enemies, as well as natural disasters and unexplained celestial events, led people to seek solace in magic and astrology, which found expression in horoscopes and objects adorned with talismanic images. These folk beliefs existed side by side with a sincere devotion to Islam, as evidenced by exquisite Koranic manuscripts and numerous inscriptions and tombstones containing verses from the Koran. The glorious age of the Seljuks was one that exalted the splendor of this world and the celestial realm. The Palace and Cosmos reveals the Seljuks' artistic achievements in all their dimensions and provides a unique record of their contribution to the cultural heritage of the Islamic world.