Historical Timeline of Architecture Quiz

Pre-Historic Architecture

• Humans spread from Africa to Southern Europe, Asia, and eventually North America and Australia
• By 9000 BC, farming and agriculture were practiced, and animal domestication was used for work, milk, and wool
• The development of tools, such as those made of stone, wood, and bone, contributed to the success of human evolution

Architectural Characteristics

• Early dwellings were mostly single-room structures
• The development of more complex civilizations led to the division of rooms into smaller spaces for eating, sleeping, and socializing
• Primitive dwellings, such as wigwams, tepees, and igloos, were constructed using local materials and showed little difference from modern times

Near East Architecture

• Mesopotamian city-states, such as Ur, Babylon, Agade, Ashur, and Damascus, were formed around 2334 BC
• Each city-state was surrounded by a wall and dominated by a large temple
• The society was divided into kings, craftsmen, soldiers, farmers, and priests
• The Persians, led by Cyrus the Great, formed an empire that covered Mesopotamia, Anatolia, the Eastern Mediterranean, Bactria, the Indus Valley, and North Africa

Ziggurats and Palaces

• Ziggurats were religious buildings built next to temples, with a small temple on top
• Palaces, such as the Palace Platform at Persepolis, were built to celebrate the victories, wealth, and power of kings
• The Palace of Persepolis took 50 years to build and featured a variety of architectural styles

Egyptian Architecture

• The Nile River made Egypt a wealthy country, and the pharaohs were seen as gods dwelling on earth
• The society was divided into senior priests, officials, noblemen, and army commanders, with most ordinary Egyptians being farmers
• Architects, engineers, theologians, and laborers worked together to design, finance, and construct monumental buildings
• The Egyptians developed a system of writing, astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy

Architectural Characteristics

• Walls were thick and battered, with unbroken massive walls used for temples and monuments
• Roofs were not an important consideration, and flat roofs were used to cover and exclude heat
• Stone was abundant and used for monuments and religious buildings
• Decorations included moldings, hieroglyphics, and torus moldings

Pyramids and Temples

• Pyramids were massive funerary structures built for pharaohs, with the Step Pyramid of Zoser being the first large-scale monument in stone
• The Great Pyramid of Gizeh is the most magnificent of the pyramids, with equilateral sides facing the cardinal points
• Rock-cut tombs were built along hillside for nobility, not royalty
• Mortuary temples were built in honor of pharaohs, while cult temples were built in honor of gods

Fortresses and Dwellings

• Fortresses were built on the west bank of the Nile or on islands, with the Fortress of Buhen being the largest fortified town near Nubia
• Dwellings were made of crude brick, with one or two storey high flat roofs, and featured a reception suite, service quarters, and private quarters### Pre-Historic Architecture
• Developed due to the need for tools, made of stone, wood, and bones
• No organized religion, but the dead were treated with respect through burial rituals and monuments
• Examples of pre-historic architecture:
  • Caves paintings in Africa, France, and Spain
  • Megalithic structures in France, England, and Ireland
  • Menhir (a single, large upright monolith) in Carnac, France
  • Dolmen (a tomb of standing stones) in Carnac, France
  • Cromlech (an enclosure formed by huge stones) in Carnac, France
  • Stonehenge (a monolithic monument) in England

Primitive Dwellings

• Mostly one-roomed, with the development of more complex civilizations leading to division of rooms for eating, sleeping, and socializing
• Examples of primitive dwellings:
  • Wigwam or Tepee (conical tent with wooden poles) in North America
  • Hogan (primitive Indian structure of joined logs) in North America
  • Igloo (house constructed of hard-packed snow blocks) in the Arctic
  • Beehive Hut (a primitive hut made of mud and straw) in Africa
  • Trullo (a dry-walled rough stone shelter) in Italy

Near East Architecture

• Historical timeline:
  • Mesopotamian Empire under King Sargon of Agade
  • Mesopotamian Empire under King Hammurabi
  • Assyrian Empire under King Ashurbanipal
  • Persian Empire under King Darius I
• Characterized by:
  • Clay and mud bricks
  • Use of timber, copper, tin, lead, gold, and silver
  • Colossal winged-bulls guarding chief portals
  • Polychrome glazed bricks in blue, white, yellow, and green
  • Murals of decorative continuous stone
• Examples of Near East architecture:
  • Ziggurats (religious buildings) in Mesopotamia
  • Palaces (kings' celebrations of victories, wealth, and power) in Mesopotamia
  • Temple of Persepolis (Audience Hall, Reception Halls, Storerooms, etc.) in Persia

Egyptian Architecture

• Historical timeline:
  • Combined kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Menes
  • Pharaohs (gods dwelling on earth, sole masters of the country)
• Characteristics:
  • Narrow stretch of fertile land along the Nile
  • Divided into groups: senior priests, officials, noblemen, and army commanders
  • Wealthy country due to the Nile's annual overflow
  • Pharaohs' tombs: monumental architecture, burial chambers, offering chapels, and mortuary temples
  • Use of stone, metals, and timber
• Examples of Egyptian architecture:
  • Pyramids (Pyramid of Cheops, Pyramid of Chephren, Pyramid of Mykerinos)
  • Temple of Ammon (Grandest temple, with pylons, court, hypostyle hall, and sanctuary)
  • Temple of Hatshepsut (Prototype of Greek Doric temples)
  • Mammisi Temple (Became the prototype of Greek temples)
  • Obelisks (upright stone, square in plan, with an electrum-capped pyramidion on top)Here are the study notes:

Historical Timeline of Architecture

• The text covers the historical timeline of architecture from pre-historic to modern times.
• The timeline includes Near East, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, 18th-19th C Revival, 20th C Modern, Islamic, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese periods.

Greek Architecture

• Greek architecture emerged in the Aegean period (Minoan) from 1900 to 1100 BC.
• The polis (city-state) was the basis of Greek society, with each city-state having its own ruler, government, and laws.
• Greek architecture was influenced by the need for communication and trade between city-states.
• The Hellenic period (800 to 323 BC) saw the peak of Athenian prosperity under Pericles.
• Greek architecture is characterized by the use of columns, trabeated style, and the development of the orders (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian).

Greek Orders

• The Doric order is characterized by a simple capital, no base, and a shaft with 20 flutes.
• The Ionic order has a volute or scroll capital, a slender column, and 24 flutes.
• The Corinthian order is a decorative variant of the Ionic order, with a deeper capital and a more ornate entablature.

Greek Temple Architecture

• Greek temples were designed to house the image of a deity and were oriented towards the east.
• The Parthenon and the Temple of Nike Apteros are examples of Greek temples.
• Greek temples typically had a porch, a cella, and a rear chamber.

Greek Theater and Stadium

• Greek theaters were carved out of hillsides and were designed for acoustic efficiency.
• Stadiums were used for athletic competitions and were often built near the theater.

Roman Architecture

• Roman architecture emerged in 146 BC and was influenced by Etruscan and Greek styles.
• The Romans developed the use of concrete, arches, and vaults.
• Roman architecture is characterized by the use of the Tuscan order, a simplified version of the Doric order.

Roman Construction System

• The Romans used a combination of columnar and trabeated styles, with the addition of arches and vaults.
• Roman construction systems included the use of opus incertum, opus quadratum, and opus reticulatum.

Roman Architecture Examples

• The Pantheon is a famous example of Roman architecture, with its circular temple design and hemispherical dome.
• Roman forums were central public spaces surrounded by buildings, including basilicas, temples, and markets.
• Roman cities were planned with straight streets and a grid pattern.