history of architecture

History of Architecture
 Greek

The Historical
Timeline of Architecture

Egyptian

Pre-Historic Greek
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN Near East
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek
Greek Empire
under Alexander the Great of Macedonia

ASIA MINOR

CRETE
SYRIA
PERSIA

MEMPHIS
INDIA
EGYPT

THEBES

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN INFLUENCES
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORY
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE Aegean Period (Minoan)
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
• Civilizations on Crete and Greek mainland from 1900 to 1100 BC
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL • The first great commercial and naval power in the Mediterranean,
20TH C MODERN
founded on trade with the whole eastern seaboard: Asia Minor, Cyprus,
ISLAMIC
INDIAN Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Libya, even South Italy and Sicily on the west
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
• Trade and communications produced a unity of culture and economic
stability
• Knossos was the largest city, had a magnificent palace
 Greek
Mycenaean or Helladic (1550 to 1100 BC)
• Continuation of Cretan ideas and craftsmanship on mainland Greece
• Wealth due to their control of metal trading between Europe and Middle
East

Hellenic Period (800 to 323 BC)

• City-states developed on the plains between mountains – Sparta and
Athens were most important
• The "polis" emerged as the basis of Greek society
• Each had its own ruler, government and laws
• A federal unity existed between city-states due to
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST common language, customs, religion

EGYPTIAN
GREEK
• Several different forms of government: Oligarchic,
ROMAN Tyrannic, Democratic
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE • Under Pericles (444 BC to 429 BC),
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN
peak of Athenian prosperity
ISLAMIC • Outburst of building activity and construction,
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
developments in art, law-making, philosophy
FILIPINO and science
• Philosophers – Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
 Greek

• Among best soldiers in the ancient world – Hoplite Army defeated

repeated invasions by Darius and Xerxes of Persia
• Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquered Persia, Asia Minor,
Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan
• Greek language and culture reached an enormous area
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
Hellenistic Period (323 to 30 BC)
ROMAN • Hellenistic Empire established, Greek civilization extended
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

GEOLOGY & CLIMATE

• On the mainland, rugged mountains made communication difficult
• Mountains separated inhabitants into groups, clans, states
• archipelago and islands: sea was the inevitable means of trade
and communications

• Between rigorous cold and relaxing heat

PRE-HISTORIC
• Clear atmosphere and intense light - conducive to creating precise
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
and exact forms
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
• Judicial activities, dramatic presentations, public ceremonies took
BYZANTINE place in the open air
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

RELIGION

PRE-HISTORIC
Aegean religion:
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
• Primitive stage of nature worship
ROMAN • Priestesses conducted religious rites, sacred games, ritual dances,
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE worship on sacrificial altars
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
Greek religion:
20TH C MODERN • A highly developed form of nature worship
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
• Gods as personifications of natural elements, or deified mortals
CHINESE & JAPANESE • Gods could influence events in the human world
FILIPINO

• Greeks sought advice from oracles – oracle at Delphi

 Greek
GEOLOGY & CLIMATE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
• On the mainland, rugged mountains made
communication difficult DESCRIPTION
• Mountains separated inhabitants into groups, clans,
states
• archipelago and islands: sea was the inevitable means of
trade and communications

• Between rigorous cold and relaxing heat

• Clear atmosphere and intense light - conducive to
creating precise and exact forms
• Judicial activities, dramatic presentations, public
ceremonies took place in the open air

RELIGION

Aegean
• Rough and massive
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST Hellenic

EGYPTIAN • Mostly religious architecture
GREEK • "carpentry in marble“ - timber forms imitated in stone with
ROMAN remarkable exactness
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE Hellenistic
ROMANESQUE • Not religious in character, but civic – for the people
GOTHIC Aegean religion: • Provided inspiration for Roman building types
RENAISSANCE • Primitive stage of nature worship • Dignified and gracious structures
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL • Priestesses conducted religious rites, sacred games, • Symmetrical, orderly
20TH C MODERN ritual dances, worship on sacrificial altars
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
ISLAMIC
Greek religion: • Columnar and trabeated
INDIAN • A highly developed form of nature worship • Roof truss appeared, enabling large spaces to be
CHINESE & JAPANESE • Gods as personifications of natural elements, or deified unhindered by columns
FILIPINO mortals
• Gods could influence events in the human world MATERIALS
• Timber and terra cotta
• Greeks sought advice from oracles – oracle at Delphi • Stone
 Greek
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

DESCRIPTION

Aegean
• Rough and massive
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
Hellenic
CHINESE & JAPANESE • Mostly religious architecture
• "carpentry in marble“ - timber forms imitated in stone with
FILIPINO

remarkable exactness
 Greek

Hellenistic
• Not religious in character, but civic – for the people
• Provided inspiration for Roman building types
• Dignified and gracious structures
• Symmetrical, orderly

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
PRE-HISTORIC
• Columnar and trabeated
history of architecture

NEAR EAST • Roof truss appeared, enabling large spaces to be unhindered by

EGYPTIAN
GREEK columns
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
MATERIALS
GOTHIC • Timber and terra cotta
• Stone
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek
EXAMPLES

HOUSES

On islands:
• Flat roofing
• Drawn together in blocks
• Two to four storeys high
• Light admitted through light wells

On mainland:
• Single-storeyed house with deep
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
plan
ROMAN • Columned entrance porch with central
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE doorway
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC • Living apartment proper with sleeping
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
room behind
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
TOMBS
CHINESE & JAPANESE • rock-cut or chamber tombs - “tholos” tomb
FILIPINO
Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae
 Greek
PALACES
Palace of King Minos, Knossos
Palace at Tyrins
Lion Gate, Mycenae

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

TEMPLES
• Chief building type
• Earliest ones resembled megaron in plan and construction

• Number of columns at entrance:

1 column – hemostyle
2 columns – distyle
3 columns – tristyle
4 columns – tetrastyle
PRE-HISTORIC
5 columns – pentastyle
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN 6 columns – hexastyle
GREEK
ROMAN 7 columns – heptastyle
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
8 columns – octastyle
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
9 columns – enneastyle
RENAISSANCE 10 columns – decastyle
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN 12 columns – dodecastyle
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek
Arris
MOULDINGS
• Architectural devices, Splay

which with light and shade,

produce definition to a
building Fillet
• Could be refined and
delicate in contour, due to Billet

fineness of marble and the

Cove
clarity of atmosphere and
light
Cavetto

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

Ogee
NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN Cyma Recta
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC Cyma Reversa
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC Beak
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
Brace
 Greek
•Certain refinements used to correct optical illusions:
• Horizontal lines built convex to correct sagging
• Vertical features inclined inwards to correct appearance of falling
outwards
• On columns, entasis was used, swelling outwards to correct
appearance of curving inwards

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

METHODS OF NATURAL LIGHTING

• no windows
• clerestory - situated between roof and upper portion of wall
• skylight - made of thin, translucent marble
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
• temple door, oriented towards the east
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek
GREEK ORDERS

• Shaft, Capital, and Horizontal

entablature (architrave, frieze,
cornice)

• Originally, Doric and Ionic,

named after the two main
branches of Greek race
• Then there evolved
Corinthian, a purely decorative
PRE-HISTORIC
order
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 DORIC ORDER Greek

• Without base, directly on crepidoma

• Height (including capital) of 4 to 6 times the diameter at the base
• Shaft diminishes at top from 3/4 to 2/3 of base diameter
• Divided into 20 shallow flutes separated by arrises

• Doric capitals had two parts - the square abacus above and circular
bulbous echinus below

Doric entablature:
• Height is 1 and 3/4 times
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST the lower diameter in

EGYPTIAN
GREEK
height
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE 3 main divisions:
• Architrave, principal
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
beam of 2 or 3 slabs in
20TH C MODERN depth
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
• Frieze
CHINESE & JAPANESE • Cornice, mouldings
FILIPINO
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek
IONIC ORDER
• Volute or scroll capital (derived from Egyptian lotus and Aegean art)

Ionic column:
• More slender than Doric
• Needed a base to spread load
• Height was 9 times the base diameter
• Has 24 flutes separated by fillets
• Upper and lower torus

PRE-HISTORIC
Ionic entablature:
• Height was 2 and
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK 1/4 times the
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
diameter of column
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC Two parts:
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL • Architrave,
20TH C MODERN
with fasciae
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
• Cornice
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
• No frieze
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

CORINTHIAN ORDER
• Decorative variant of Ionic Order

Corinthian column:
• Base and shaft resembled Ionic
• More slender
• Height of 10 diameters
• Capital: much deeper than Ionic, 1 and 1/6 diameters high
PRE-HISTORIC
• Capital invented by Callimachus, inspired by basket over
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
root of acanthus plant
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
3 parts:
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
• Architrave,
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN
• Frieze,
ISLAMIC • Cornice, developed type with dentils
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
Temple of Hera, Paestum
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN The Parthenon, Acropolis
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

Temple of Nike
Apteros, Athens

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK Temple of Artemis Ephesus
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN The Erectheion, Acropolis
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek
TEMENOS
• Enclosure designated as a sacred land
• Entire groups of buildings laid out symmetrically and orderly

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

Acropolis at Pergamon

The Acropolis, Athens

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST 10 structures form a world-famous building group:

EGYPTIAN
GREEK • Propylaea
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
• Pinacotheca
BYZANTINE • Statue of Athena Promachos
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC • Erectheion
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
• Parthenon
20TH C MODERN
• Temple of Nike Apteros
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
• Old Temple of Athena
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
• Stoa of Eumeses
• Theater of Dionysus
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus
 Greek

AGORA

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK STOA
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
PRYTANEION,
INDIAN BOULEUTERION,
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO or ASSEMBLY HALL
 Greek

THEATER or ODEION
• Carved or hollowed out of the hillside
• Acoustically-efficient

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN

ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
 Greek

PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture

NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN Theater of Epidauros
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
STADIUM or HIPPODROME
20TH C MODERN PROPYLAEA
ISLAMIC PALAESTRA and GYMNASIUM
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE NAVAL BUILDING
FILIPINO
TOMBS/ MAUSOLEUM