AH 221 HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1

Course Name:
Architectural manifestation of thoughts from the beginning of civilization to the
Course
Byzantine Period.
Description

Number of Units
for Lecture and Lecture - 3 Units
Laboratory
Number of
Contact Hours per Lecture : 3 Hrs.
week

Prerequisite/Co-
None
requisite

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

1. Make the students understand the evolution of architecture from the Pre-
historic times to the Byzantine Period.
Course Objectives
2. Distinguish a particular architectural style from another.
3. Make a comparative analysis of the architectural styles during the periods
covered.

a. Distribution of syllabus to the students.

b. Orientation / Introduction Requirements, Policies
Other diagnostic assessments.
c. Introduction on the History of Architecture
- Its definition and objectives
- Its principles and influences
d. Pre-Historic Architecture
- Paleolithic and Mesolithic Period
- Neolithic Man and Architecture.
e. Historic Architecture
- Pre-Classical architecture
Course Outline
- West Asiatic Architecture
- Egyptian architecture
f. Classical Architecture
- Aegean and Greek Architecture
- Etruscan and Roman Architecture.
g. Early Christian Architecture
h. Byzantine Architecture
MIDTERMS
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

HISTORY – refers to a systematic, often chronological narrative of significant events as relating to a

particular people, country, or period, and often includes an explanation of their causes.
– a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events.
A history of architecture is a record of man’s efforts to build beautifully. Only when the idea of
beauty is added to that of use does a structure take its place among works of architecture. We may,
then, define architecture as “the art which seeks to harmonize in a building the requirements of
utility and of beauty”. It is the most useful of the fine arts and the noblest of the useful arts. It
touches the life of man at every point. It is concerned not only in sheltering his person and ministering
to his comfort, but also in providing him with places for worship, amusement, and business; with
tombs, memorials, embellishments for his cities, and other structures for the varied needs of a
complex civilization. Everyone at some point comes in contact with the work of the architect, and from
this universal contact architecture derives its significance as a record of the civilization of a period,
a race, or a people.

ARCHITECTURE - the ART, and SCIENCE, of DESIGNING and CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS.

(By Francis D.K. Ching)
STYLE - is a quality; the “historic styles” are phases of development. Style is character expressive
of definite conceptions, as of grandeur, elegance, or solemnity.
- A particular or distinctive form of artistic expression characteristic of a person, people or
period.
An historic style is the particular phase, the characteristic manner of design, which prevails at a
given time and place. Each style is based upon some fundamental principle springing from its
surrounding civilization, which undergoes successive developments until it either reaches perfection
or its possibilities are exhausted, after which a period of decline usually sets in. This is followed either
by a reaction and the introduction of some radically new principle leading to the evolution of a new
style, or by the final decay and extinction of the civilization and its replacement by some younger and
more manlike element.

Architectural styles are identified by the means they employ to cover enclosed spaces, by the
characteristic forms of the supports and other members (piers, columns, arches, mouldings, traceries,
etc.), and by their decoration.
ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY
- Focuses on the evolution of buildings, monuments, pediments and settlements in relation to
art, history and philosophy.
- It is a discipline that records, studies and interprets architecture. It studies its forms, purposes,
and most importantly its evolution.
- It is an appreciation for understanding and conserving the cultural heritage that comes along
with architecture.
- Allows the development of a broad framework in economics, design, philosophy, urban
development and art.
- It is a record of man’s efforts to build beautifully

Why study History of Architecture?

- Studying architectural history enables us to understand the society and culture that every
period of development represents and orders us to have knowledge on how and why each
era since the beginning of time formed its own unique style.

- Explain the principles of the styles, their characteristic forms and decorations, and to
describe the great masterpieces of each style and period.

- To understand the effects of geography, geology, religion, culture and society, and methods
of construction on the evolution and development of architectural styles reflected on the
building design.
THREE MAJOR ELEMENTS THAT BECAME THE PRIME FACTORS AND
CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
- From the beginning of its history, architecture has had a threefold problem or aim: to build
structures at once commodious, strong, and satisfying to the artistic sense.

1. UTILITY AND FUNCTION

- The primary need which brought and still
brings the need of enclosed space
sheltered
from weather.
- Doors windows and other openings – for
circulation and controlled access.
- Interior partitions – zoning of spaces and
division of rooms intended for various
uses.
- Incorporation of interior courts – for light
and ventilation.
- Use of corridors, passageways, stairways,
elevators – provide means of circulation
and communication between areas.
- Irregularity of shape for rooms and courts.
- Development of major and minor axis of
symmetry.

2. STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Essential even a mere provision of
enclosed space, as well as to resistance
against the various forces disintegration is
a sufficient measure of strength.
 Forces acting on walls – thickness
of walls.
 Foundations – consistency on the
pressure in reference to the soils
compressive strength.
 Openings – understanding the
effects of stresses and materials to
the structure
and adapting the design to
eliminate instances of structural
failure.
 Roofs – influenced mainly by
climate and available materials.
 3. AESTHETICS
- Along with a desire for strength and
practical usefulness goes often a
conscious striving for artistic sense that
are partly of conscious preference, partly
traditional usage, partly natural
conditions and practical necessity, which
constitutes to the artistic character of a
structure.
 Preference on materials
 Use and purpose of the structure
or building
 Method and application of
different design elements in
producing aesthetically
reasonable results
 Presentation of ideas of pure form
– expressed in size, shape,
contours, color, finish, light and
shade

6 MAJOR INFLUENCES IN THE STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

a. GEOGRAPHICAL – pinpoints the location of a particular country where an architectural style

or structures is made.
– describes mainly whether a location is near a body of water, a secluded
island, near the terraineous mountains, barren dessert, or fertile land.

b. GEOLOGICAL – describes the common building materials found in a particular locality, the
characteristics and composition of the earth and the contour of the ground.
These are common building materials like stones, trees, reeds, bamboo, clay
for bricks, marble stones, terra cotta for pavements, metals, concrete, and
others that influences the character and style of a building or structure.

a. CLIMATIC – these are base records of the prevailing weather of a particular country.
These influences the type of character of a building wherein the style is based on
the extremes of weather conditions of a region. Example is if a region has an
extreme of cold weather, building styles of that region will be different from those
living in an extreme warm weather region.

b. RELIGIOUS – emotional temperament and spiritual tendencies of the people in a particular

country or region. Religion and beliefs influences the erection of massive
temples of worship for numerous gods/goddesses.

c. HISTORICAL – these are the recorded past significant events of the lives of people that
happened in a region. It tells descriptions of how people built their civilization
and community and how they survived certain changes in their culture.
 d. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL – influences that changed the community of a certain region by
means of the type of governance or laws that they created. It
concentrates mainly on the leaders of the community on how
they build and create monuments, massive structures, temples,
government buildings, palaces, and others.

FOUR (4) CONSTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLES IN HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

1. POST AND LINTEL - a system in which two upright members, the posts, hold up a third member, the
lintel, laid horizontally across their top surfaces.

2. ARCH AND VAULT - a structural member consisting of an arrangement of arches, usually forming
a ceiling or roof.
3. CORBEL or CANTILEVER - a projected beam or bracket supported at one end and carrying a load at the
other end or distributed along the unsupported portion.

CANTILEVER

4. TRUSSED - structural member usually fabricated from straight pieces of metal or timber to form a series
of triangles lying in a single plane.
 Meso American

Pre Columbian

Ancient Mediterranean civilizations Ancient Americas civilizations

Middle-East and Ancient Near East civilizations (SUMERIAN, BABYLONIAN, and PERSIAN)

Classical Antiquity Period (derived from the ancient Mediterranean civilizations such as at Knossos on Crete. They
developed highly refined systems for proportions and style, using mathematics and geometry)

Medieval Europe (The dominance of the Church over everyday life was expressed in grand spiritual designs which
emphasized piety and sobriety)
Early Modern Period and European Colonialism
- The Renaissance began in Italy and spread through Europe, rebelling against the all-powerful Church, by placing Man at
the centre of his world instead of God. The Gothic spires and pointed arches were replaced by classical domes and
rounded arches, with comfortable spaces and entertaining details, in a celebration of humanity. The Baroque style was a
florid development of this 200 years later, largely by the Catholic Church to restate its religious values

Late Modern Period and the Industrial Revolution

- A time often depicted as a rural idyll by the great painters, but in fact was a hive of early industrial activity, with small
kilns and workshops springing up wherever materials could be mined or manufactured. After the Renaissance,
neoclassical forms were developed and refined into new styles for public buildings and the gentry.
PREHISTORIC ARCHITECTURE
11,600 BCE to 3,500 BCE

The term "Prehistory" was coined by French scholars, referring to the time before people recorded history in
writing. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records
with which recorded history begins. This is the longest period in the past of modern man (Homo sapiens) that
lasted about 400,000 years. In some areas in the Near East it continued until the 4th millennium BC, while in
Central America it lasted until 500 BC.
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
• Humans spread from Africa into Southern Europe, Asia
• Could not settle far north due to the cold climate
• From Siberia by foot into North America
• From Southeast Asia by boat into Australia

• Before 9000 BC, nomadic life of hunting & food gathering

• By 9000 BC, farming and agriculture was practiced
• Fertile soil and plentiful food
• Animal domestication for work, milk, wool

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
• No organized religion
• The dead are treated with respect - burial rituals
and monuments
HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE
 Direct early human ancestors evolved in Africa from 2.3 million years ago
 Homo habilis, Homo erectus, homo sapiens, homo sapiens sapiens
 Living in caves – hunting
 Settlements developed near caves or along shores and streams – farming & hunting
 The success of the early human race was largely due to the early development of tools – made
of stone, wood, bone, etc.
 Different societies developed differently

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

Three Cultural Stages of PreHistoric Architecture:

a. STONE AGE – started from 9000 BC up to 2000 BC (Longest Stage).

- divided into three (3) divisions:
1. PALEOLITHIC or Old Stone Age (from Greek words Palaios or "old" and
lithos or "stone")
2. MESOLITHIC or Middle Stone Age - characterized by rising sea levels and a
need to adapt to a changing environment and find new food sources.
3. NEOLITHIC or New Stone Age - characterized by the adoption of agriculture,
the shift from food gathering to food producing in itself is one of the most
revolutionary changes in human history. Signifies the development of pottery,
polished stone tools and more complex, larger settlements.

b. BRONZE AGE - a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze and proto-writing,
and other features of urban civilization.
- started from early 2000 BC up to early 1000 AD. It covered the period of the
Minoan Civilization or the start of the Greek Architecture.

c. IRON AGE - The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel.
The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including
differing agricultural practices, religious beliefs and artistic styles.
- indicates the condition as to civilization and culture of a people using iron as the
material for their cutting tools and weapons.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF EARLY KNOWN TYPES OF ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE:

1. DWELLINGS
Two types:
a. Rock Cave – earliest form of dwellings.

Natural Rock Caves Artificial Rock Caves Rock caves above ground

b. Tents and Huts – made from tree barks, animal skins, tree leaves, reeds,
tall grass and bushes.

Tepees of American Indians

2. RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS
Two (2) Classifications:

a. MONOLITHS - prehistoric feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock, such

as some mountains, or a single large piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument
or structure. Sometimes known as “Menhir”(French term for long stones), which are
indications of memorial victory over one tribe during a tribal war.

The Rudston monolith is the tallest prehistoric The Géant du Manio, a menhir in
standing stone in Britain, measuring almost 8 metres Carnac, Brittany, North-western France.
high, nearly 2 metres wide, a metre thick and
estimated to weigh somewhere in the region of a
massive 26 tons

b. MEGALITHS – prehistoric monuments comprising of several numbers of stones.

Types of Megaliths:
1. DOLMEN – two(2) upright stones supporting a horizontal stone
member.
2. CROMLECH – three(3) or more upright stones capped by an unhewn
flat stone for which indicates a place of religious rites.
3. STONE ROW – made up of 3,000 stones spaced evenly and upright.
Poulnabrone Dolmen, the Burren, County Clare, Ireland CROMLECH

Stonehenge (Stonerows)
- a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire,
England, north of Salisbury Plains where it is
the remains of a ring of standing set
within earthworks.
- consists of the ff:
1. Outer Ring of stones 106 ft. in
diameter
2. Isolated blue stone
3. Innermost ring of smaller stones
4. Smaller blue stones
3. BURIAL MOUNDS
TUMULI or ” Barrows” - earthen mounds use for burials of several to a hundred of ordinary persons.

The imposing false entrance to the Belas Knap Neolithic

long barrow in Gloucestershire, Great Britain