THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES OF MOSQUES IN ACEH: Local and global influences

Abstract

Aceh, an Indonesian province on the northern tip of Sumatra Island, has unique urban and rural environments and a rich cultural tradition. Aceh is the region into which Islam is believed to have entered Indonesia in the twelfth century and from which it is believed to have spread not only throughout Indonesia but also to Southeast Asia. Concerning this, Aceh’s ties with Islam have a long and rich history. The study aims to examine the development of mosque in Aceh from precolonial to post colonial times. The methodology of this study is a qualitatif descriptive. The collected data is analized through library research and field observations. In doing this, the study shows that crossed cultural issues, social mix as well as political aspects have some impacts on the representation of Mosques in Aceh.