ITRUDUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY THROUGH THE
CIVILIZATIONS
ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY THROUGH THE
CIVILIZATIONS
Architecture in the Western Succession Architecture in the Eastern Succession
Mesopotamian Civilization (BC 3000 – 331) Sindh Civilization (BC 3000 – 2000)
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD) Vedic Civilization (BC 1500 – 800)
Murya Civilization (BC 400 – 185)
Greek Civilization (BC 650 – 30)
Buddhist Architecture (BC 200 – 641 AD)
Roman Civilization (BC 300 – 365 AD)
Hindu Architecture (AD 350 – 1100)
Muslim Architecture (AD 1100 – 1700)
Mesopotamian Civilization (BC 3000 – 331)
•Location: Asia Minor and West Asia
•Main Structural Elements: Clay, Wood, Sun dried Brick
Mesopotamian Civilization (BC 3000 – 331)
Main made Architecture:
Ziggurat: Main Temple or sacred place of
ancient Mesopotamian civilization
Ishter Gate: Main Entry Gate of Babylon
city of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.
Now its preserve at Babylon Museum.
Mesopotamian Civilization (BC 3000 – 331)
Palace of Percepolis: one of the main
structure and Palace of the Kings of
Persian civilization
Hanging Garden of Babylon: Royal
Garden on open to sky terrace of ancient
Babylon city. It was perceived above the
eye level of human being.
Cuneiform: It was a style of writing. In this
style the letter were written with a sharp
materials on clay and then dried in the
Sun and then burn
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD)
•Location: Present Egypt
•Main Structural Elements: Clay, Wood, Sun dried & fire burn Brick, Stone
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD)
Main made Architecture:
Mastaba: Generally, it was a buried place
for great Leader or royal people, which
covered with a heavy chunk of mud. Some
time there were small chambers in side
the Mastaba.
Pyramid: Royal buried place. Generated
from Mastaba. Only for Pharaouns. There
are different kind of Pyramid, like
Step Pyramid: Imhotep was the architect
of this structure. It was built by the five
layer of steps
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD)
Giza Pyramid Complex: Consist of
three great Pyramids and statue of
Sphinx. The biggest one is the
Cheops Pyramid, then the Chephren
Pyramid and then the 3rd one name
Mykerinos.
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD)
The great Pyramid of Cheops
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD)
The Pyramid of Chephren
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD)
The Pyramid of Mykerinos
Egyptian Civilization (BC 3000 – 100 AD)
Sphinx: it was a imaginary God of Egyptian civilization. Its head like human face and the rest
of the body like the lion. Basically it was built for the security of Pharaouns dead body in side
the Pyramid
Greek Civilization (BC 650 – 30)
•Location: Present Greece
and its Island near the
Mediterranean Sea
•Main Structural Elements:
Stone and Marble
Greek Civilization (BC 650 – 30)
Main made Architecture:
Temple and different kind of public facilities
buildings (theatre, stadium, assembly hall,
shops, gathering space etc.)
Greek Order: different kind of Column- Doric,
Ionic and Corinthian
Acropolis: the highest hill area of ancient
Greek Cities which consisted of royal
temples and the statue of God &
Goddess, like Acropolis of Athens. It has
three temples- Parthenon, Erechtheion,
Nike Apteros. Also has the statue of
Goddess Athena and more
Greek Civilization (BC 650 – 30)
Parthenon: the temple of the Goddess Athena
of the Athens Acropolis, which architect was
Ictinus and Callicrates
Priene(334 BC)- a planed city designed by
a town planner Hippodomos
Greek Civilization (BC 650 – 30)
Agora: Central point of ancient Greek
cities. It had theatre and stoa or shops.
Erectheion
Roman Civilization (BC 300 –365 AD)
•Location: Present Italy
and its surroundings
•Main Structural Elements:
Stone and Marble
Roman Civilization (BC 300 –365 AD)
Main made Architecture:
Pantheon: Roman temple
Roman Civilization (BC 300 –365 AD)
Arch- De- Triumph or triumphal Arch: Monumental structure for special incident
Basilica: Roman Court house
Roman Civilization (BC 300 –365 AD)
Colosseum: Arena or
stadium or
amphitheater, where
different kind of sports
were happened
Roman Civilization (BC 300 –365 AD)
Circus Maximus: Special stadium for horse race or
Chariot
Roman Civilization (BC 300 –365 AD)
Aqua Duct: Specially designed Drain for supplying
water to city Rome, like- Point- De- Nimes
Roman Civilization (BC 300 –365 AD)
Forum: Central point for ancient Rome
Prehistoric Architecture
Evolution of Shelter
The Cave
Prehistoric Architecture
Evolution of Shelter
The Huts
Prehistoric Architecture
Evolution of Shelter
The Rectangular
or Round house
Prehistoric Architecture
Architectural Evidences
Menhir :
The great single upright and almost casually shaped stones are
called Menhirs or monoliths.
These stones were arranged in parallel rows.
They were religious monuments.
Sometimes these huge stones were arranged in circle.
Examples- a. Avebury at England.
b. Loc Mariaker, in Brittany.
c. Cornac, in Brittany ( height 63’, width 14’)
Prehistoric Architecture
Architectural Evidences
Dolmen:
-Dolmens were tombs, made of gigantic stones.
-In this structure, a large stone stab was placed
upon some upright stones.
-Entire complex was covered with clay or earth in
mound form and surrounded by a circle of large
stones, as a kind of retaining wall for the earth.
-Dolmen had a rectangular chamber and they
were used as grave yards.
Example- Dolmens has been found or discovered
in England, Spain, northern Africa, Egypt, Syria
and in many other adjoining places.
one is- Stone henge, at Satisbury plain, Wiltshire,
England.
Prehistoric Architecture
Architectural Evidences Stone Henge:
-Stone henge is the most famous prehistoric temple in Europe. It is a sacred megalithic structure.
-At the stone henge, there are four concentric rings of upright stones surrounding a sand stone
altar slab.
- The stone henge was completed in three periods naned as stone henge 1,2 & 3.
-The outer ring 106’ in diameter comprises 30
massive sarsen (local stones). Again,
according to the picture, the lintels were
dovetailed continuous.
-The next ring is of much smaller, “blue stones”,
brought from Prescelly hills, in Wales.
-There was another ring made up of 5
enormous sarsen trilithons (horse
shoe shaped) of graduated height.
-The inner most ring was again of
smaller stones from Prescelly origins.
Prehistoric Architecture
Architectural Evidences
Stone Henge:
Functions:
(1) People thought it was a
religious place.
(2) Some people believed
that this place was
connecting place to
communicate with outer
space.
(3) According to the recent
theories, Stone henge
functioned as a sort of
astronomical calendar. e.g.,
Stone Henge of Wiltshire.
