1. The Dissemination of Power
How do these works of art function as objects which disseminate power?
This question is a little bit different than a question about authorizing power. The question is: in an age of no electronic communication or easily reproduced images, how could a ruler or an important religious figure spread his power across large spaces?

2. Illuminated tugra of Sultan Suleyman c. 1555-1560
A History of the World in 100 Objects episode #71
Illuminated tugra of Sultan Suleyman, from Istanbul, Turkey c
ink, paint, and gold on paper
**How can a ruler make sure that the power at the center of the empire is deployed at its edges? **What is the function of this work of art?
The Islamic Ottoman Empire was moving from being a military world to an administrative one. Suleiman the Magnificent was a contemporary of Henry VIII in England and Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.
The tugra becomes a way that Suleiman the Magnificent can make sure that his power is deployed all the way to the edges of his empire. He issued over 150,000 edicts/laws/directives—each one born his tugra.
a tugra – is an imperial emblem ; in an Ottoman tugra the ruler’s name is combined with his title—khan (lord), his father’s name, and the motto eternally victorious”
the tugra symbolizes the authority of the sultan
a firman is an imperial edict that supplements Muslim law
always three long vertical lines to the right of two horizontal teardrops
fill decoration– merges abstraction with naturalism –a tiny meadow of flowers
boldness with delicacy
rejoices in natural forms while avoiding the human figure
political power with patronage
function (utilitarian and symbolic) with adornment
Illuminated tugra of Sultan Suleyman c
ink, paint, and gold on paper

3. Coin with head of Alexander
This coin was issued by Lysimachus, the former general of Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death, Lysimachus ruled part of Alexander's empire in Bulgaria, northern Greece and Turkey known as 'Thrace'. Lysimachus used Alexander's portrait on his coins to emphasize his position as Alexander's successor. Alexander was worshipped as a god after his death. Here he sports the ram's horns of the god, Zeus Ammon, whom Egyptian priests claimed was Alexander's father. On the reverse of the coin is the goddess Athena. Alexander was born in the kingdom of Macedon in 356 BCE. By the age of 25 he had conquered Greece, Egypt and Persia, creating an empire spanning 2 million square miles. Following his death in 323 BCE, Alexander's generals began to squabble over his legacy. Since they could not claim a blood-tie, these generals tried to legitimize their rule through other connections with Alexander. Eventually they divided the empire into three main kingdoms in Macedon, Egypt and Persia and went on to form powerful dynasties.

4. Purpose: to serve as a model for an engraving meant to be sold in order to generate money for a series of nationalistic paintings on a grand scale
John Trumbull The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill, June 17, oil on canvas
Nota bene: the purpose of this painting was to serve as a model for an engraving meant to be sold in order to generate money for a series of nationalistic paintings on a grand scale.

5. Daric coin, first minted under Darius I of Persia, 4th century BCE