The palaces built by the great Islamic rulers played an important role in both stimulating and shaping the cultural flowering of the Islamic world. Drawing on their enormous resources and the incredible skills of Islamic architects, artists, and artisans, Islamic rulers fashioned palaces that reflected their power, their ambitions, and their values. Once built, such palaces served a variety of functions. As a political setting, they helped sultans, shahs, and emperors display their exalted status to visiting diplomats, courtiers, and dignitaries. Islamic rulers were great patrons of the arts, and thus palaces became cultural centers inhabited by a host of talented and creative individuals. Finally, palaces served as engines of economic and urban growth, gathering people from far and wide to serve the needs of the palace and its inhabitants. The two paintings included in this feature reveal the important role Islamic rulers played in the planning and construction of their own palaces. As you examine the paintings, ask yourself why rulers might have felt it important to play such an active role in this process. What connections might they have made between their palaces and the success of their reigns?