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Prehistoric and Ancient Architecture Overview

The document discusses pre-historic and Near East architecture. It describes early human shelters like rock caves, wigwams, and hogans that were made from natural materials like animal skins, wood, and mud. It also discusses religious monuments from the Stone Age like menhirs, dolmens, and cromlechs. In the Near East, the earliest civilizations emerged in Mesopotamia and architecture was influenced by the availability of materials like clay, reeds, and imported stone and timber, leading to brick construction. Ziggurats were large pyramidal temples and palaces and temples featured decorative brickwork.

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Candace Aguilar
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
41 views7 pages

Prehistoric and Ancient Architecture Overview

The document discusses pre-historic and Near East architecture. It describes early human shelters like rock caves, wigwams, and hogans that were made from natural materials like animal skins, wood, and mud. It also discusses religious monuments from the Stone Age like menhirs, dolmens, and cromlechs. In the Near East, the earliest civilizations emerged in Mesopotamia and architecture was influenced by the availability of materials like clay, reeds, and imported stone and timber, leading to brick construction. Ziggurats were large pyramidal temples and palaces and temples featured decorative brickwork.

Uploaded by

Candace Aguilar
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

HOA MODULE 1

 Abstract notations
HOA  Shamanic themes
o Tents
MODULE 1.1: PRE-HISTORIC  Made from tree barks,
animals skins, and plant
ARCHITECTURE leaves.
PRE-HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE o Huts
Made from reeds, bushes,
 The time before people recorded history in and wattles
writing. o Trullo
 Objects are the documents of record.  Dry walled rough stone
shelter with corbelled roof
INFLUENCES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF
o Tipi
ARCHITECTURE
 Conical tent with wooden
 Direct human ancestors evolved in Africa from poles as framework.
2.3 million years ago.  RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS
 The success of human race was largely due to o There is no organized religion
the development of tools made of stone, wood o Dead are treated with respect thru
and bones. burial rituals and monuments
 Before 9000 BC o Menhir
o Nomadic life of hunting and gathering  A pre-historic monument
 By 9000 BC consisting of an upright
o Farming and agriculture was stone, usually standing alone
practiced. but sometimes aligned with
 Stone Age others in parallel rows.
 Bronze Age o Dolmen
 Iron Age  Daul – table
 Maen – Stone
STONE AGE  A prehistoric monument
consisting of two or more
 Paleolithic large upright stones
o Old Stone Age supporting a horizontal stone
o Approximately 35,000 BCE to 8000 slab or capstone
BCE o Cromlech
o Beginning of symbolic thought (as  A circular arrangement of
seen in the beginnings of art, megaliths
astronomy and notation)  Stonehenge
o Ended in the Ice Age  England
 Mesolithic  Burial Grounds
o Middle Stone Age o Tumulus
o Tools from the environment  An artificial mound of earth
o or stone protecting tomb
 Neolithic chamber or a simple grave.
o New Stone Age
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
o Hunting and food gathering
o settlement  Material
 LITH (“stone”) o Animal skins
o Wooden frames
EARLY KNOWN TYPES OF ARCHITECTURE
o Animal bones
 Dwellings  Construction System
o Rock Cave: earliest form of dwelling, o Existing or excavated caves
readily available, natural habitat o Megalithic structures
o Lascaux Cave  Decoration
 Montignac, France o By hand, manual
 Paleolithic Art
 Drawings of horned and
antlered animals QUIZ
 Pregnant female animals
1
HOA MODULE 1
 Rock Caves: earliest form of human settlement  Conquer each other and form empire
 Wigwam: An American Indian dwelling,
GEOLOGICAL AND GRAPHICAL
usually round or oval shape, formed of poles
overlaid with bark, rush mats, or animal skins.  The fertile plains of twin river, Tigris and
o Bark, animal skin Euphrates were given the name
o Native American MESOPOTAMIA
 Hogan: A Navaho Indian dwelling constructed  MESOS = Middle
of earth and logs covered with mud and sod.  POTAMOS = River
o Mud, energy efficient  Unlike Eqypt, lacks natural defensive
o Native American (Navajo) boundaries
 Trullo: A traditional limestone dwelling in
southern Italy, square chambers are roofed ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
with conical vaulted roof.
 Building materials
o Dry stone hut, conical roof
o Abundance of clay, soil and rushes
o Italy
o Stone and timber are rare, but are
 Clochan: Also known as a beehive hut, a dry imported
stone with a corbeled roof, commonly o BRICKS = compressed in molds,
associated with the south – western Irish
dried in the sun or kiln fired
seaboard
 Residences
o Beehive hut
o Mud bricks (affluent)
o Dry stone
o Reeds (poor)
o Ireland
o With small windows
KEY TAKEAWAYS o Central courtyards to let in air and
light
 Pre-historic: BEFORE written records  Ornaments and Decorations
 Early humans used natural elements as form of o Colossal winged bulls
shelter o Murals of decorative continuous stone
 Different types of primitive shelter specific to o Polychrome glazed bricks
each civilization
 Megalithic structures were preferred by  Sumerian
ancestors. o Sun-dried brick faced with burnt or
 [Link] glazed brick
o Monumental temples, ziggurats
MODULE 1.2: NEAR EAST  Babylonian
ARCHITECTURE o Mud-brick construction
o Palaces and temples were decorated
CRADLES OF CIVILIZATION
with enameled brick friezes
 Where the first civilization emerged  Assyrian
independently, uninfluenced by others. o Mud-brick construction
o Mexico o Palaces took precedence over
o Peru religious buildings
o Egypt  Persian
o Mesopotamia (Iraq) o Synthesis of architectural elements of
o Indus Valley surrounding countries (including
o China Egypt and Ionian Greece)

ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES

NEAR EAST ARCHITECTURE  Ziggurats (spiritual)


o Huge, pyramidal temple-shaped
 The ancient near east was the home of early tower, dedicated to the god of the city
civilizations within a region roughly o Houses of the gods
corresponding to the modern Middle East o Polytheistic religion is practiced in
 Known as the cradle of civilization Mesopotamia
o Rise of the CITY o Ziggurat of Ur
o Invention of writing  Builder: Ur Nammu
 Society of kings, craftsmen, soldiers, farmers  Material: Mud brick
and priests
2
HOA MODULE 1
 Dedicated to the Moon god EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
(Nanna), patron god of the
city of Ur CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
 Palaces  Equitable and of warm temperature
o Center of government  Storm, fog and even rain are rare.
o Built by kings for their city-state  Climate accounts to a large extend for the good
o Palace of Sargon preservation of the temples
o Parts (3)  Ancient egyptian structures has no downspout,
 Seraglio: palace proper drainage and gutters due to absence of rain.
 Haram: private chamber
 Khan: service chamber RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
 Cities
 Pyramids were built because Egyptians believe
o Kings conquered city states and
in life after death and for the preservation of
established cities the dead body
o Persepolis
 Dwellings are temporary lodging, the tomb is
 1979 UNESCO World the permanent abode.
Heritage Site
 Palace complex founded by HISTORICAL INFLUENCE
Darius I and seat of the
empire  Old Kingdom (1st to 10th dynasty)
 Other examples: o Capital of Egypt at Memphis
o Ishtar Gate o Development of two types of tombs
o Tower of Babel  Mastaba
o Hanging Gardens  Pyramid
o Age of the Pyramids
QUIZ o Important personalities
 Djoser
 Ziggurat: Stepped pyramid – like structures of
 First pharaoh to
successively receding levels built in Ancient
order construction
Mesopotamia, constructed with outside
of a pyramid (Step
staircases and a temple or shrine at the top for
pyramid)
worshipping the gods.
 Imhotep
 Seraglio: Term used to denote the palace
 Djoser’s vizier:
proper in an Assyrian palace.
considered by some
 Haram: The private chamber in an Assyrian to be the earliest
palace known architect
 Khan: service chamber in an Assyrian palace.  Vizier: most
 Persepolis: Founded by Darius I in 518 BC, powerful position
this capital city of the Persian’s is considered after the king.
by UNESCO as one of the world’s largest Equivalent to the
archeological sites. prime minister in
modern times.
 Sneferu
KEY TAKEAWAYS  Pharoah who
ordered the
 Ancient near east refers to the civilization that
construction of the
flourished in Mesopotamia
Bent Pyramid
POINTS OF INTERESTS:  Khufu
 Sneferu’s son
 Ishtar Gate  Built the Great
o Gate to the inner city of Babylon (575 Pyramid
BCE)  Middle Kingdom (11 to 16th dynasty)
th

o Babylonian goddess Ishtar o Population flourished in terms of art,


o Walls: glazed bricks massive construction projects and
o Constructed by: Babylonian King trade
Nebuchadnezzar II o A prosperous period in which much
buildings were carried out.
MODULE 1.3: EGYPTIAN o Important personalities
ARCHITECTURE  Mentuhotep II
3
HOA MODULE 1
 Founder of the o After Alexzander died, his generals
middle kingdom divided his empire and Ptolemy took
 Developed the third Egypt.
type of tomb: o Ancient Greek state based in Egypt
Rock-cut tomb during the Hellenistic period
 Senusret o Founded by Ptolemy I Soter
 Erected th earliest (companion of Alexander the Great),
known Obelisk: lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII
Heliopolis in 30 BC
 Amenemhet I o The Ptolemies were the longest and
 Initiated the most recent dynasty of the ancient
foundation of the origin.
Great temple of o Important personalities
Ammon Kharnak  Ptolemy I
(Grandest of all  Completed the
temples) construction of
 New Kingdom (17th to 20th dynasty) Egypt’s new capital
o Capital of Egypt at Thebes (Alexandria)
o Many imposing of buildings in  Began the building
Kharnak, Luxor of the Lighthouse of
o Important personalities Alexandria
 Thuthmose I  Ptolemy II
 Began the additions  Ptolemy the Great
to the temples of  Arts and Sciences
Ammon, Kharnak  Light of Alexandria
 Hatshepsut was finished
 Queen of Egypt  Ptolemy III
 Famous for her  Military end
funerary temple of economic power
Mount Der-El-  Founded the
Bahari greatest serapeum at
 Thuthmose IV Alexandria
 Responsible for
cleaning away sand SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE
from the Sphinx.  Form government: Monarchy
 Amenophis III
 Pharaoh: King of Egypt, ruler, highest priest
 Erected the Colossi
 Son of Pharaoh: normal successor to the throne
of Memnon, one of
the wonders of the GEOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL
world.
 Rameses I  Egypt consists of a sandy desert with a strip of
 Began the fertile country on the banks of the Nile
construction of the  Wealthy country despite the desert – every
Great Hypostyle year, Nile would overflow, leaving the land
Hall (Karnak) fertile for growing crops
 Rameses II  A single kingdom for most of its existence –
 Finished the unified under the centralized omnipotent
construction of the authority of the pharaoh (king)
Great Hypostyle
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
Hall (Karnak)
 Erected the Rock  Simplicity
temple at Abu  Monumentality
Simbel  Solidity/Massiveness
 Ptolemaic Period
o Began when Alexander the Great  Systems of Construction
defeated the Persians in Egypt o Post and Lintel
(332BC) o Columnar and Trabeated

 Features:
4
HOA MODULE 1
o Battered Wall  Upper ground structure
 Diminishing in width  Can be visited by
towards the top for stability priests and loved
 Thickness: 9 to 24m at ones.
temples  Subterranean
 Unbroken massive walls, for  Sealed chambers
uninterrupted space for carved below
hieroglyphics (formal  Parts of Mastaba
writing system used by  Stone Façade
ancient Egyptians that  Sacrificial Chapel
combined logographic and  Tombstone
alphabetical elements)  Fill
o Flat roof, no windows  Shaft
 Roof was not an important  Masonry Seal
consideration  Stone Slab
 Flat roofs sufficed to cover
 Burial Chamber
and exclude heat
 Sarcophagus
 Spaces were lit by skylights,
 Serdab
roof slits, clerestories
 A narrow chamber
 Abundant Materials
off the Ancient
o Stone
Egyptian Mastaba
 Used for monuments and
either concealed or
religious buildings
accessible only by a
 Durability of stone is why
narrow passage and
monuments still exist to this
containing the
day
statue of the
 Stones
deceased.
 Soft stone o PYRAMID
o Limestone
 Built by the Kings as their
o Sandstone future tomb.
o Alabaster  To secure immortality
 Hard stone\  A massive masonry structure
o Granite having a rectangular base
o Quartzite and four smooth, steeply
o Basalt sloping sides.
Porphyry  Three types
o Sundried bricks  Step
 Made up of clay and  Bent
chopped stone for pyramids  Straight –
and temples sided/slope
o Date palm o The Pyramids of Gizah
 Used for roofing material  Pyramid of Khufu
o Acacia  Largest
 Used for boats  Great Pyramid
o Sycamore  Sides are oriented
 For tombs of mummies to the cardinal
points.
ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES
 Original: 147m
 TOMBS - 3 types  Current: 138m
o MASTABA  Pyramid of Khafre
 First Egyptian burial  Appears taller.
structure  Built on higher
 Flat top, tapered wall ground.
 Tomb-houses that were  Original: 143.5m
made to take the body at full  Current:136.4m
length.  The Great Sphinx
 Tomb for nobles  Pyramid of Menkaure
 “Stone bench”  Smallest
5
HOA MODULE 1
 Original: 70m MODULE 1.4: PRE-COLUMBIAN
 Current: 62m
o ROCK CUT OR ROCK HEWN
AMERICA
 cut deep into the mountain CRADLES OF CIVILIZATION
rock
 burial chamber that is cut  Where the first civilization emerged
into the living rock usually independently, uninfluenced by others.
along the side of a hill o Mexico
 Common form of burial for  Mesoamerica
the wealthy in ancient times  Maya
in several parts of the world.  Aztec
 E.g. Tomb of Amenemhet o Peru
 TEMPLES o Egypt
o An edifice or place dedicated to the o Mesopotamia (Iraq)
worship or presence of a deity. o Indus Valley
o Only kings and priests can penetrate. o China
o 2 types:
o 1. Mortuary PRE-COLUMBIAN AMERICA
 Built in honor of pharaohs.
o 2. Cult AZTECS, MAYANS, INCAS
 Built for the worship of the  The three great civilizations of Historical Latin
Gods. America
o Parts of a Temple
 All had full control of massive empires.
 Pylons: gateway  Have unique languages and specific religious
 Hypaethral Court: larger views.
outer court open to sky
 Hypostyle Hall: a pillared GEOLOGICAL AND GRAPHICAL
hall in which the roofs rest
on a column INCAS
 Sanctuary: surrounded by
 Rose in the 12th century
passages and chambers
 Avenue of Sphinx: where  Developed in the Andes Mountains of Peru
mystical monsters were (South America)
placed.  City: Machu Picchu
o Examples  Defeated by Spanish (1572)
 Great Temple of Abu Simbel  Religion: worship the “Sun Gods”; performs
 Great Temple of Ammon sacrifices; polytheistic
Karnak AZTEC
TERMINOLOGIES
 Nomadic tribe from Northern Mexico (13th
SPHINX century)
 City: Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico)
 A figure of an imaginary creature having the  Hunter – gatherers
body of a lion and the head of a man, ram, or  Also known as “tenocha” or “Mexica”
hawk  High interests in the arts (dancing, music,
o Androsphinx – human poetry)
o Criosphinx – Ram  Religion: huge temples and pyramids for their
o Heiracosphinx – Falcon/hawk gods; sacrifices were required to keep the good
strong; polytheistic
OBELISK
MAYA
 An Egyptian monolithic four-sided standing
stone, tapering to a pyramidal cap, often  2600 BC
inscribed with hieroglyphics, and erected as a  Known for its hierological script.
monument.  Developed in the rainforests of Mexico and
Central America
 City: Tikal (Guatemala)
 Advanced and had great knowledge of
mathematics and astronomy.
6
HOA MODULE 1
 Religion: human sacrifice as part of their  Site of the most architecturally significant
religion; believed gods needed blood to keep Mesoamerican pyramids built in the Pre-
from causing disasters or ending the world; Columbian Americas
polytheistic  Teotihuacano (Stepped pyramids) style of
architecture was copied by Maya and Aztec
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER AND vultures.
EXAMPLES  PYRAMID OF THE SUN
o Largest building in Teotihuacan
INCA
TIKAL
 Mixture of geometrical and natural forms
 Uniform buildings with massive imperial  UNECO WHS, 1979
structures  Old Mayan City, declined due to drought and
 Master stonemasons: constructed large epidemic
buildings, walls and fortifications using finely  TIKAL TEMPLE I
worked blocks fitted precisely (no mortar o Temple of the Giant Jaguar
needed) o Impressive classic Maya Temple
 Machu Picchu (UNESCO WHS, 1989) Pyramid
 One of seven wonders of the Modern World o 34m x 28.8m (PLAN)
AZTEC MAYAN REVIVAL
 Their step pyramids were massive structures  ENNIS HOUSE
(generally 60-65m tall) with temples on their o Frank Lloyd Wright, 1924
flat tops.
 Reason for height QUIZ
o They believed they were closer to
their gods, and Pyramids: structures that Maya built for their Gods
o They continually built over previous Temple: on top of Maya pyramids
versions to make bigger temples.
 Monumental sculptures, statues Aztecs: Maya pyramids is similar to this civilization
 TENOCHTITLAN
o Ancient capital and center of the
Aztec Empire
o Stood 8,000 ft above sea level in a
landscape of a bare volcanic mountain
and forested valleys.
o Templo Mayor
 Central temple
 Dedicated to Huitzilopochtli
and Tlaloc

MAYA

 Pyramids with flat top


 CHICHEN ITZA
o Ancient Mayan city
o At the mouth of the well of Itza
 TEMPLE OF KUKULCAN (El Castillo)
o UNESCO WHS, 1988
o Each side has 91 steps.
o 365 steps, all for sides and the top
platform

TEOTIHUACAN

 Pre-Aztec city
 The city of the Gods

Common questions

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Geography heavily influenced the construction materials used in Near Eastern and Egyptian architecture. In Mesopotamia, the plentiful clay and scarce availability of stone led to the use of sun-dried bricks as the primary building material. Meanwhile, in Egypt, the Nile's annual flooding deposited fertile soil that was not suitable for construction; however, the proximity to quarries provided ample stone, such as limestone and granite, which were used extensively in the construction of durable monuments like pyramids and temples .

The geographical and geological features of Mesopotamia, such as the fertile plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, significantly influenced its architectural development. The lack of natural defensive boundaries encouraged the construction of cities with complex walls and fortifications. Additionally, the abundance of clay and soil, in contrast to the scarcity of stone and timber, led to the predominant use of sun-dried and kiln-fired brick in building structures like ziggurats, temples, and palaces .

The design of the Ziggurat of Ur reflected the religious and societal values of the Sumerians by symbolizing the connection between the earth and the divine. As a stepped, pyramid-like structure, it embodied the Sumerians' polytheistic beliefs and served as a physical representation of a sacred space dedicated to the moon god Nanna, the city's patron deity. The ziggurat's monumental size and central location within the urban landscape underscored its role as a focal point for community religious worship and civic pride .

Persian architecture demonstrated a synthesis of elements from surrounding cultures by incorporating diverse architectural styles and techniques. It borrowed features from Egyptian and Ionian Greek structures, such as the use of columns and ornate decorations in palaces. The palatial complexes in cities like Persepolis exemplify this blend, showcasing the empire's ability to assimilate and refine foreign influences into a distinctive Persian style .

Pre-Columbian religious beliefs significantly shaped the architecture of their cities and structures. The Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas all constructed massive pyramids with temples at the top, symbolizing their closeness to the gods and serving as sites for rituals and sacrifices. Structures like the Pyramid of the Sun and Templo Mayor accommodated religious activities that were central to their cultures' daily lives. Their architectural designs reflected their polytheistic beliefs and the importance of appeasing deities through monumental architecture .

The Incas employed masterful stonemasonry techniques and locally sourced materials, such as finely cut and fitted stones, to build Machu Picchu. This method, which did not require mortar, allowed structures to withstand natural forces such as earthquakes. The terraces and drainage systems reflected an understanding of the mountainous terrain and contributed to Machu Picchu's structural stability and resilience in the Andes, showcasing the Incas' engineering prowess .

The Pharaoh played a pivotal role in Egyptian architecture, serving as both the political and religious leader. This position of central authority allowed Pharaohs to commission monumental projects like pyramids and temples, reflecting their divine status and ensuring their immortality. Structures such as the pyramids of Giza were constructed to honor their legacies and serve as eternal resting places, while temples like Karnak celebrated the gods and underscored the Pharaoh's role as a deity's earthly representative .

The climate in Egypt, characterized by minimal rain, storms, and fog, played a crucial role in the preservation of its ancient temples. The dry conditions reduced weathering and erosion, which are common contributors to structural deterioration elsewhere. This stability allowed for the extraordinary longevity of Egyptian monuments such as the temples of Karnak and Luxor, ensuring that they remain intact and discernible to this day .

The Mastaba, the earliest type of Egyptian burial structure, is characterized by its flat top, sloped sides, and a subterranean burial chamber. It served as a tomb for nobles, featuring a stone façade and an upper structure accessible to priests and loved ones. The Mastaba's design included a sacrificial chapel and a narrow serdab for the statue of the deceased, underscoring the Egyptians' beliefs in the afterlife and continuous offerings to the dead .

Architectural features such as clerestories and hypostyle halls played significant roles in ancient Egyptian temple design, contributing to their functionality and spiritual ambiance. Clerestories, with elevated openings, allowed natural light to illuminate the vast interiors, creating a divine atmosphere suitable for religious ceremonies. Hypostyle halls, with their forest of columns, not only supported massive roofs but also symbolized a sacred grove, enhancing the spiritual experience of entering a temple, where only priests and pharaohs could penetrate these sacred spaces .

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