Was Muslim art and literature in the 1500s similar to or different from that of Renaissance Europe?
The art was wildly different, since Islamic art was constrained by taboos against displaying the human figure, and sometimes even against any physical representation. So the Islamic art of this period is mostly complex patterns. Much of it is very impressive, but it is far inferior to the great religious paintings and statues of the Renaissance. The literature was far less dissimilar. Both Muslims and Christians wrote commentaries and analyses of Aristotle, and other scientific or philosophical works mostly based on Greek models. Both cultures produced poetry in various forms. Other forms, like essays, drama, and prose fiction, were only emerging.
