Architecture

 an old view: viewed as heroic building

 one interpretation: refers to all environments that are created or modified by humans.

People create architecture in order:

 To provide shelter and other utilitarian functions
 To carry meaning and express ideas (convey meaning)

1. Early Humans and the environment

 Manipulation of the natural environment, countless species modify their environments
 Developed means to manipulate their environment in more sophisticated ways
 Fire: evidence at Honio Erectus sites as long ago as 1.5 million years ago
 Fire: used for cooking, protection; keeping us warm; light
o Factor in evolution
Humans and their ancestors developed means to manipulate their environment in more
sophisticated ways such as fire and stone. Fire allows humans to control their environment by
keeping us warm, make meat more digestible and safer, keep dangerous species a bay, allow vision
at night, etc.

2. The Palaeolithic World (舊石器時代)

 Migration (multiple times), probably by boat in shores
 Venus of Laussel (ca. 25000 BCE) -fertility deity
o Dominant deities were probably female due to the palaeolithic ritual objects.
The structures emphasizes female attributes which suggests they take birth
and life very seriously
 Venus of Willendorf (ca. 24000 BCE)
o Carved to emphasize the fleshiness of the figure; fertility
 Palaeolithic Cave Art, Lascaux, France (ca. 15000 BCE)
o Gallery of the Bulls. Drawn using charcoal and blowing it through a tube (air
brush)
o May be to guarantee flourishing and successful hunting
o May have been part of a ritual to appease the spirits of dead animals
o Conceived as cosmic womb where forces related to fertility could be
appealed to
o ‘Scene of the Dead Man’ (ca. 15000 BCE)
 A tailed hunt? A shamanistic ritual?
3. The Neolithic Age and Cities (新石器时代)
o Started in the Neolithic Age around 10,000 BCE.
o Improvement in agriculture, technology, society, and culture
o Humans began to farm rather than relying on hunting
o Animal Husbandry: domesticated goats, dogs, sheep, pigs and cows
o Cultural Change: More individuals pursue occupation (crafts, trades)
o Social Change: Larger communities/ variety of occupations
Characteristic of cities
 Population density and diversity
 Economy: Food surplus, trade and specialization
 Infrastructure: Transportation, water, etc.
 Formalized Government
 Variety of buildings and spaces
 Distinctive Urban Culture

Catal Huyuk, Turkey (7th Millenium BCE)

 Complex economy; animal and crops; close to water
 Fields and houses are separated
 Houses built from sun dried bricks and uses plaster as coating
 No streets – walked on roofs
 Ritual life in houses (animal skull as decorations)
 Burials (in houses under platforms)
 Ritual drawings

4. Stonehenge, England (ca. 2750-1500 BCE)

 Mysterious, complex design that has a much larger landscape- including other
circles, avenues, stone monuments (Neolithic)
 Larger stones = Sarsens
o Suggests they have the labour and technology for transport
o Many stones ring in distinctive ways; amplifies sound
o Related to lunar/solar alignments
o Used for burials; ritual centre for healing

Early Civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley

Mesopotamia (“the land between the rivers”)

 Neolithic cities declined in 5500 BCE
 Villages appeared between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
 The Bronze Age (3400 BCE o 3900 BCE in Mesopotamia)
 Rivers flooding- irrigation technology to sustain communities
The city-state of Ur (ca. 2000 BCE – Third Dynasty) in present day Iraq
 Became one of the largest settlements under the Sumerian kingdom
 City wall and temple/ palace complex
 Residential areas not well organized until royal streets were added
 Canal surrounding the cities
 Palace and religious buildings are highly organized
o Ziggurats were substitute mountains connecting earth and heaven
o Nanna, the goad of moon
o Interior- mud brick, exterior- fired brick
o Ziggurats were the axis mundi, events happened on top, above granary
 They believed the rulers of Ur were descended from heaven
 Priests managed the city and organized labour
 Stele of Ur Nammu: shows the king giving libations to a deity holding a rod and line
  Code of Hammurabi revised Ur Nammu’s code 300 years later in Babylon
 Map of Nippur on clay tablet may possibly be the oldest scaled map in the world

Ancient Egypt
 Predynastic (4400-3100 BCE), Archaic (3100-2649 BCE), Old Kingdom (2649-2100
BCE), Middle Kingdom (2030-1650 bCE), New Kingdom (1550,1070 BCE)
 Bronze Age in Egypt started around the start of Archaic period
 The Nile Valley civilization were the most prominent
o Kemet (“the black”): soil, fertile land/ river between desert cliffs
o Deshret (“the red”): desert; also the name for the crown o lower Egypt
 King/Pharoah (Great House) Narmer unites Egypt (ca. 3100 BCE)
o Shown through the Palette of Narmer, which deified the rule
o Symbolic of fertile lands and the yearly floods, followed by dry periods
 Mastaba: tomb within a flat mound
o Contains chapel at ground level and serdab burial tomb underground
o Ka, the vital force of the individual in the afterlife
o Built from piled stones (tumulus) and develops into pyramids

The Old Kingdom

 Mortuary complex of King Zaser: first monumental pyramid structure
o Founded the Third Dynasty
o Symbolizes unity of Upper and Lower Egypt
o First known architect Imhotep
o Perfect rectangle in stone (instead of wood)
o Stone columns of brick sized elements and buttressed by structural walls
o Bundles of papyrus that suggest ornaments
o Ziggurat was human-scaled and allowed for events on top
o Mortuary complex of Zaser was not human-scaled
 Eventually build to be a six stepped pyramidal form
o Snefru (founder of the Fourth Dynasty) had several pyramids built
 Shows power and worthiness
 Pyramid at Dashur: too steep, made less steep hallway through
 Pyramid at Meidum: too steep, covered with limestone to make it
appear a hue pyramid
 Red Pyramid: First monumental true pyramid at a 43 degree slope
o Pyramid at Giza (ca.2570-2500 BCE): symbolic passage between earth and
sun
 Orientation in relationship to the Egyptian sacred cosmology
 Each pyramid was a part of a series of buildings
o Ritual for honoring the deceased: brought down Nile; valley temple;
mortuary; burial
o Cheaps built the first and largest pyramid at Giza
o Sphinx: Pharaoh’s head on top of a lion/s body, covered in limestone
The New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE) followed the less ambitious Middle Kingdom
 Pharaohs expanded south into Nubia and north towards Mesapolamia
 Thebes area became center of religious and political power
 o Mortuary temples and residences on West bank and cull temples on East
bank
 Temple of Amun, Karnak (ca. 1500 BCE)
o Primary deity Amun-Re incorporates essences of other, deities
o Rituals again to encompass the entire city
o Opet festival (dedicated to fertility of the gods) during the flood season
o Temples take on distinct forms with pylon, forecourt, hypostyle hall, and
inner sanctuary, occupying the size of a city
o Processional route was a metaphor for the Nile via a series of obelists
o Each element of the sequence took the name of the hour that the usn passed
above it
 Temple of Amun, Karnak (ca. 1500 BCE)
o Hypostyle hall: central corridor lined with columns + grid of columns on
either side of the hall
o Likely inrented by King/Queen Hatshepsut
o Importance of ornament on columns
o Obelisk of Hatshepsut (Obelisk 9)
 Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Deir-el-Bahri (ca. 1500 BCE)
o Queen Hatshepsut sponsored art/architecture to reinforce her position as
rule
o She ruled in between 1479-1458 BCE, succeeding Thutmosell and acting as
regent for Thutmose III
o Temple of Hatshepsut was a monumental station for the barque of Amun
o Mortuary temple built at base of mountain and served for the annual Feast of
the Valley
o Grand procession with countless Sphinx and chapels dedicated to her, her
lineage, and Amon
o Thutmose III tried to erase her legacy, but it influenced the style of New
Kingdom architecture
Indus Valley Civilization (Pakistan) also called the Harrappan Civilization
 Bronze Age culture around the same time as Mesopotamia/ Egypt
 Engaged in long distance trade
 Seals show the high artistic achievements of the Indus Valley people
o Human figures with an “organic” presentation of the human body
o No depictions of war/conflict, unlike other cultures
 Trade was a major economic activity
 Mohenjo Daro, Pakistan (2500-1500 BCE)
o Did not build monuments, instead focused on practical
urbanism/infrastructure
o Urban walls and complex drainage system to prevent flooding
o Granary, a place to store grain
o Great bath for ritual cleansing
o Gridded infrastructure with wide, orderly roads, and complex drainage and
sewer systems
Citadel at Hattusas, Turkey (ca. 1600-1200 BCE)

 -had highly developed infrastructures and walls

 -had excellent drainage channels
 -Uses Cyclopean Boulders so the city seemed primordial (something that has always been
there to fit in)
 Cyclopean Masonry with Apotropaic figures

Temple 1, Hattusas

 Built with limestone, Annex of sacred statues built of granite

 Cult statues dedicated to the gods
 They were able to understand orthogonal structures
 In Hittite temples, the cella is not centrally featured, but approached indirectly through side
rooms for private rituals

Yazilikaya (ca. 15th century BCE)

 Open air sanctuary

 Near fresh-water spring
 Numerous carvings depict the sacred marriage and conjugal ceremonial gatherings of
gods and goddesses

Crete and Minoan Culture

 Began on the island of Crete

 Minoans had strong maritime activities (sailing), chose to have communication towers
instead of protective walls
 Cycladic figure and Minoan goddesses depicts distinctive female figures

Palace at Knossos (in Minos)

 Largest and longest-lived of the Minoan palaces

 Constructed of rough stones and ceramic bricks, with large sharply defined stone blocks at
the corners
 Throne Room
o Lined with alabaster benches
o Served as a sanctuary for the High Priestess
o Megaron – rectangular room with a columned porch, used for high status spaces
 Bull Motif
o Respect for bulls, symbol of power
 Storage Magazines

Palace of Knossos was rebuilt after 1490 BCE after devastating fires that ravaged onto Knossos
and Crete. Theories suggested that the volcanic eruption of Thera let to the decline of the Minoan
civilization

 Mycenaeans are influenced by the Minoans

Organic- related to life, happens over time without a clear structured organization

Citadel, Mycenae. Greece (ca. 1330 BCE and later)

  Built on high ground with good supply of water
 Thick walls to protect the Mycenae’s houses of the city’s elite
 Has numerous underground tunnels and entry access points
 Stone corbellings on passageways
 Myceneans were influenced by the Minoans and the Hittites (uses cycloplean boulders,

Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae (14th century BCE)

 Underground structure
 Cased in stone and used a corbel vault
 Covered in earth to stabilize the structure

Rise and Fall of the first temple at Jerusalem

9/29

What make Greeks Greek?

 Similar Enemies, Shared same language, Same religion

Palace at Pylos, Greece (13th century BCE)

Some continuity from Myrcenae to Greece, including deities and religious structures

Components of a Greek City in the Hellenistic Period

  Pytanieon – City Hall- housed the cities metaphoric health
 Skias – Cylindrical Tholos Structure, dining hall for the fifty members of the senate
 Bouleuterion – Senate house theatre with perimeter seating
 Stoas- Open colonnades to all for meeting space, lawsuits, banquets

Temples 9th-8th centuries

Oikos

 Religious buildings as houses of the deities

 Greek statues are not mobile
 Sacrificial alter took place outside the temple

Four typical elements of the sanctuary

 Temple
 Altar
 Temenos (boundary)
 Propylon (gate)
 Each temple was devoted to a god
 Oriented to face the sunrise on the festival day of their deity
 Originally built in wood, reconstructed in stone with a terracotta tile roof (roof still in
wood)

If the columns are in the centre of the temple, it is most likely an Archaic temple.
Akropolis. Athens (mid 5th century BCE)

o Rebuilding as a sign of Athenian and Greek Supremacy

o Banded together by Athens by protection against the Persians
o Sculptor (Phidias) is also the urban planner and designer for the new
Acropolis
 Ionic Temple -Fluidic column system, Did not have wings as they hoped Athena Nike would
not leave the athens
 Double tiered colonnade

Doric Refinements. Parthenon. Akropolis. Athens (447-432 BCE)

Parthenon. Akropolis. Athens (447-432 BCE)

Reconstruction of gold and ivory statue of Athena Parthenos (the Virgin) by Phidias

Erechtheion built on uneven ground, included ancient ritualized symbols (olive tree) all
combined into one

The Ionic Temple originates from Ionia (in Turkey).

Temple of Apollo. Bassae, Greece (5th century BCE)

Has Ionic Columns on the side attached to the walls but a

singular Corinthian Column in the middle. (Site of first
Corinthian Column)

Agora. Athens (400 BCE)

 Agora = Gathering space for Politics (Center of civic life)

 Each city space has its own Agora
 Joins together as a league of cities when under attack
 Every male Athenian-born property owner can speak for their
relations
Priene, Ionia, Turkey (ca. founded 350-334 BCE)

o Beginning of Orthogonal Planning; Grided cities divided into territories

o Agora: 200m square ft

Women are segregated and are not allowed to leave the oikos. You can only cook, sew and raise
children. During the Hellenistic Period this began to change

After the death of Alexander the Great, the empire split into four ruled territories

 Ptolemy Dynasty in Egypt and Palestine

 Seleucid Dynasty in Mesopotamia
 Antigonid Dynasty in Aegeon region
 Attalid Dynasty in Pergamon, Turkey (Hellenistic development 3 rd-2nd centuries BCE) ca. 281
BCE

Persian Culture (波斯)

Large Blue Gates

Pars (Persepolis), Iran (518-460 BCE)

New Capital of Persian Empire ruled under Kings Darius and later Xerxes with their grand
palace complex set on a plateau against a steep cliffs

 The city has a complex drainage system

 Built on a terrace, access was through a stairgate
 The Achaemenid capital court of Persepolis is influenced by Egyptian Hypostyle halls
The Roman Republic

I. Cultural Context

Heavily influenced by Etruscans (Iron age people)

 Etruscans provides basic format of the temple (In terms of layout)

Mythical founding of Ancient Rome (753 BCE) - Wolf with Romulus and Remus

Vigil claims Rome was founded by Aeneas, locals say Romulus was the founder. Rome
developed at the southern edge of Etruria along the Tiber river and by the 3 rd century BCE controlled
much of Italy.

 Rome took control over Greece, Carthage, and whole of Mediterranean in the 2 nd century
 Territories overlapped Greek and Hellenistic areas, builders used Greek and Hellenistic forms
and ideas.

II. Roman Building Technology
a. Arches
 First to exploit Arches for monumental architecture.
 Fundamentally and structurally different from post and
lintel (column and beam) structures
 Rely on wedge-shaped elements (voussoirs)
 Usually made of brick or stone
 Uses a framework (centering) to erect the arch
 Uses small bricks to form an arch

Stone, Brick, and Concrete are strong against compression but weak in tension, thus weak against
bending.

Examples of Arches

Pont du Gard. Nimes, France (1st century BCE)

 Made of stone, in the form of water supply

b. Concrete

Pozzolana (Volcanic Ash) is the main ingredient of Roman Concrete

Normally mixed with sand and water to create a slurry and with stone or brick, then covered in
plaster. It is good because it is cheap, durable, and weather resistant

Porticus Aemilia. Rome (2nd century BCE) uses the same ingredient

III. Roman Temples

Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. Rome (6th century BCE)

Development from Etruscan temple to Maison Carree

Etruscan Temples

 Multiple chambers at the back for statues of deities

 Deep porch
 Stairs when entering
Maison Carree

Decorations come from Greek (Corinthian order columns

Structural columns at the front supporting the roof. (Wall connecting to decorative column supports
the roof at the back)

IV. Roman Cities

a. Castrum

Also known as military camp functions as outpost of Roman civilization; model for colonial cities.

b. Timgad
o (ca.100 CE) Roman cities often contained an amphitheatre, latrines, and baths
o Comparison of Timgad and Priene Turkey
o Based on a grid, consistent rectangle and square (Priene is based on the side of hill)/ inspired
from the castrum
o Area around forum is a rectangle
c. Pompeii
o Buried under ash from Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii was rediscovered in 1748
o Preserved under many feet of ash and debris, the buildings and spaces of Pompeii offer
glimpses of everyday Roman urban life.
o Not originally a Roman City but gradually takes on the building types which includes an
Amphitheatre, Forum (with big open space), Theatre etc.

Stabian Baths (2nd Century BCE) were type of public baths that were typical in Roman cities

 Segregated by gender
 Each set of those baths have a sequence of spaces including barrel vault, cold-water
pool, and cubicles for clothing
 Cold, Luke-warm, Hot Baths
 Bright red walls, finely decorated walls
 Has a sophisticated heating system (Hypocaust system for baths)

Basilica. Pompeii (2nd century BCE)

 Originally used as a market building but at end used for legal matters (court)
 Large open space in the center
 Flat roof
 Greek Corinthian Orders as structural support

Domus - Standard house type for wealthy household

At the top Skylight

Empluvium - Pool

Tablinum - where people greet their important guests

Hortus – Garden

Ala- Important displays, Statues of ancestors

Briefly trace the development of concrete architecture in ancient Rome. Consider changes in
function, plan, and complexity.

How did the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum) relate to the social structure and social policies of
Rome?

Roman Republic ended with the murder of Caesar in 44 BCE; in 27 BCE Octavian was granted the
title of Augustus. Rome transforms with change, becomes more monumental.

Forum: Civic centre of the Roman City (Pompeii, Timgad, or Rome). Like the agora in ancient Greece,
the forum served political, commercial, religious, and civic purposes.

Forum Romanum

 Center for Civic life

 Place for leisure and government center
 Is a Gathering spot, which turns into the hearth of Rome.
 Develops over many centuries
 Irregular shape and limited size prompts emperors to build separate forums to the North
 Comparing size of different forums to show current emperors power

Arches welcoming warriors back to the hearth of Rome

Basilica found in Roman Forums and are used for judiciary purposes

Temple of Vesta

 Oldest sacred spot in Rome

 The Vestal Virgins tended the sacred flame within (kept burning continuously)
 Seen as the civic hearth of Rome

Column of Trajan

 Made out of marble

 easy to carve decoratively and holds the carving well
 Difficult to build (built on lowland)
 No technology to build along the column
 Dome inside. Spirals all the way up to the column
 200 meters of relief carvings show campaigns from the Dacian Wars

Market of Trajan. Rome (ca.100 CE): Can buy anything from the market

Connected to the rest of society

Domus Aurea. Rome (begun 64 CE)// Nero (patron), Severus and Celer (architects)

 Made with concrete, demonstrating mastery of structure

 Has oculus (120 feet high), octagonal dining room
 Clerestory windows and buttressing walls at corners of octagonal dome

Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum). Rome (70-80 CE)

  Militant to support the wars and victory
 “bread and circuses” campaign to entertain the populace
 Acts as a conservative monument aimed at re-stilling traditional male virtues of courage,
discipline, martial skills
 Levels of seating correspond to social class and gender
o Marble seats of lower levels inscribed with the names of the classes of people who
could sit there (Clear explicit hierarchy)
 Four main entrances

Pantheon. Rome (ca.120 CE)

 Unusual temple dedicated to various gods and emperors

 Converted into a church afterwards
 Has a porch and a chamber such that of a Roman temple
 Walls 20 feet thick made of concrete
o Using cavities, relieving arches, and multiple materials such as travertine, brick, tufa,
and pumice
 In terms of structure, the many arches relieving pressure from the opening of the wall. It
pushes the weight of the pressure sideways (makes sure the pressure goes on top of the
column instead of the beams)
 Materials from throughout the empire – Granites and porphyries (type of hard stone) of
Egypt, colored marbles of Africa and Asia Minor, while marbles of Aegean.

Baths of Caracalla. Rome (212-216 CE)

 Shows emperors wealth and the appreciation of his people

 Baths in Rome were major social centers. In addition to the monumental imperial baths
there were hundreds of smaller baths.
 Huge square complex with swimming pools, sauna, places to study, lecture hall, restaurants
(like a huge resort)
 Floors made out of tiles (mosaic on top)
 Walls has hollow blocks, shows the delicate heating system of the structure
 Uses different materials based on height and location
 Hypocaust system

Emperor Diocletian splits the empire where the eastern half follows the Parthian Empire while the
western part stays as the roman empire. Easier to govern, more majestic and glorious

Fall of Rome

 Administrative Difficulties
 Lead Ingestion
 Financial Difficulties
 Military Difficulties

Legacy of Roman empire and architecture

  Arches and Concrete
 Uses layout from the Etruscan Temple
 Architecture being more like a profession
 Cities are more organized

Early Christian Byzantine

Crisis and Religion in the Third Century

Idea of only one god (As religion in the Roman Empire was polytheistic, they believed in many Gods
and performed pagan rituals)

Mithras and Mithraism

Mystery religions in Rome. These cults were private and only reserving full knowledge of
their practices only to initiates. They honour the sun god Mithras

Early Christianity

Opposed by Roman Empire’s polytheistic militarism. Roman officials crucified Jesus and
Christians considered Jesus the messiah foretold in Jewish prophecies. After his death, his followers
(the twelve apostles) told his life story, miracles, and martyrdom, and the four evangelists wrote the
core texts in the New Testament.

Dura Europos, Syria is an important religious site that has the Christian house churches, and Mithra
underground temples during the rule of the Roman Empire. The romans persecuted the Jews for
their monotheistic religion and destroyed their temples in Jerusalem in 70 BCE however the Jewish
people continued their faith in covert synagogues.

Christian community house

 Is a secret assembly hall to practice the persecuted religion of Christianity

 Contained paintings of scenes from the old testament (such as a depiction of Christ healing
the paralytic)

Rome and Christian Architecture

Until the reign of Constantine (306-336), Christianity had little public or civic presence

Catacombs

 Built as inexpensive places for burials

 Bodies were placed in niches alongside the excavated corridors
 Has rare early Christian art, dating from the period when Christianity was not yet
officially recognized by the Roman government

Constantine and Christianity

 Constantine is the first Christian Emperor

Constantine ensured his political supremacy by defeating Maxentius at the Mulvian Bridge
outside Rome. Although Constantine had the numbers disadvantage and did not have any chance to
win the battle, he beat Maxentius and attributed his believe in Christianity to his victory.

Rome and St Peter’s Basilica

Built important Christian building such as the basilica of St. Peter and above the tomb of St.
Peter. He also set the precedent for church forms: with simple façade, a basilica plan with wood
gabled roof structure and clerestory. Interior including gold foil, mosaics, marble-culminating in a
half-circular apse.

 Columns taken from pre-Christian Roman buildings

 Nave (part street part graveyard) reserved for the wealthy to be buried
 Illuminated by a clerestory and led to a transept with an apse over the tomb of St.
Peter
 Communal ritual with imperial glory

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

 Constantine also sponsored the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where
the crucifixion burial was, and the resurrection of Christ were thought to be taken in
place
 Uses both a Basilica form and a Round form, common in Roman architecture
previously under Hadrian

Santa Costanza

 Basilica becomes the standard for congregational churches

 Radial forms were often used to mark important places
 Santa Costanza is where Saint Agnes is buried and served as a mausoleum for
Constantine’s daughter Constantina

Rome after Constantine

Constantine reshaped Rome and established Byzantium. Led several new churches to tbe built
including Santa Sabina and Santa Maria Maggiore.

Layout of basilica church (plain exterior, large opulent congregational interior.

The Eastern Empire and Constantinople

San Vitale, Ravenna

Under Justinian, Constantinople thrives. San Vitale is served as a symbol of his power of the
west. Experimentational church with a centralized plan

 Spatial organization and the surface treatments dematerialize the structure, creating a
heightened sense of ethereal wonder. This contrasts with the Early Western Christian
churches of Rome.
 Interior decoration includes many mosaics. Equality of rule in paitnings.
 Uses brick, stone, and other materials to build light, efficient walls.
Dome is built on pendentives
 Constantinople and the Hagia Sophia

Theodosius II (402-408 CE) strengthened the fortifications of Constantinople, making it an

impenetrable city. Justinian establishes a standard for Christian architecture and builds 34 churches
to glorify his reign.

Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Developments: Hosios Loukas

Decorations embodies the hierarchy of religious figures. Baptism and Nativity are shown in quarter
domes of the squinches

Central dome with Christ Pantocrator over the crossing

Europe after the Romans

End of the Roman Empire

 Invading tribes (Barbarian marauders) outside Roman Empire has limited agriculture, limited
productivity. They also hoarded wealth and lacked written languages
 Tribe wanted the good live of former Roman elite but destroyed it instead
 Resulted in shortened lives, violence, anguish, and death

Fyrkat. Hobro, Denmark (ca.980)

 Being predominantly nomadic (roaming from place to place aimlessly)

 Vikings did not build much
  Surrounded by circular rampart which was an inspiration to Normans motte and bailey
castles in England after 1066 CE
 Constructed clusters of four barn-like long houses; 1 for dwelling, 3 for workshops,
warehouse, and a stable
o Long Houses were made of Oak timber and thatched roofs with mud and wattle
walls (woven lattice of wooden strips with clay or mud holding it together)
o Looks like upside down wooden ships

Ireland

 Books were rare, so is the knowledge of building construction and technology

 Christianity were introduced into Ireland sometime before the fifth century
 Examples of localization of Christian design are the high crosses, which were built upon
Druidic stones (circles and spirals)

Clonmacnoise

o Founded in mid 6th century/ One of the most important monasteries in Ireland
o Focuses on religion
o Was plundered on several occasions by invaders, including the Vikings
o Cross of the Scriptures (ca.900)
 13 feet high, divided into panels of sculpted biblical scenes as well as
portraits of the abbot and kind who erected the cross
o North Cross
 Celtic-Christian imagery
 Abstract interlacing designs
 Carved on three sides with human and animal interlaced inscriptions
o Cathedral
 Built by King of Tara and the Abbot of Clonmacnoise
 Originally a brown sandstone building
o Temple Finghin and round tower
 Located at the bottom of the hills
 Little Romanesque church with a round bell tower
 Rounded structure is common in Irish Monastic compounds
o Island of Skeellic Michael
 Last isolated western bastions of Christianity
 Only about 12 monks and an abbot lived there at any time
 Monastery on northern peak (flatter half of the island) and oratory
terrace on the southern peak
 Pursue a greater unition with God away from civilization on a remote
island
 Beehive huts were corbel vaults built from small, local stones
 Simple rough dry stone structures and forms
 Exterior wall in a garden used for cultivation that blocked heavy winds

The Carolingian Dynasty and the Franks

Converted to Christianity from 500CE and in 751 CE

Charlemagne constructed 16 cathedrals, numerous palaces, and over 200 monasteries to revive the
unity and greatness of the Roman Empire as under Constantine.

Gate House, Abbey. Lorsch, Germany (767-74)

o Previously from Roman triumphal arch

o Ionic Columns, Red/white alternating stones, Inconsistent Variations, and
playfulness
o Decorations combines Roman motifs, such as Corinthian and Ionic like captitals
o Very decorative/ Non-structural related designs
o Interior decoration mimics Roman interior illusionistic wall painting (Pompeii)

Abbey Church of St. Riquier. Centula, France (790)

 Cylindrical Base
 Double ended basilica plan with two transepts

Palatine Chapel and Palace of Charlemagne. Aachen, Germany (ca.800)

o Tall Octagonal shaft of space surrounded by annular galleries

o Archway used in Chapel space is like Roman Theatre Vaults and Archways
o Similar Marble panelling as in St. Vitale
o Purpose of chapel as a burial place for Charlemagne as well as a setting for imperial
coronations
o West front had a speaker’s balcony, frontal axial arched entryway of churches
o Richly decorated interior
o Alternation of black and white voussoirs in the arches

Ideal Monastery, St. Gall. Switzerland (ca. 820)

 Important sites for uniting medieval society

 Establishing a life of prayer, poverty, chastity, and community
 Church on North (providing southern light to buildings), Animal pens, barns, working
lodgings on south

Church

o Nave church had two towers made of stone, rubble, and wood construction
o Double ended plan with no transept or apse alongside wood truss roofs over the nave and
side aisles
o Monastery was a self-contained economic unit
o Mainly for conversion and incorporation of local people into the Carlingian Empire
o Central cloister is the heart of the religious community
o Initially created for political control, establishing order and authority, converting non-
believers, providing economic development, and training.

Hosios Loukas

 Bult to honor Saint Luke the Younger by Emperor Basil II

 Oldest church using a cross plan on Greece
 Four arms of the plan are roughly equal in length
  Mosaic of Christ Panthokrator greets visitor as they mov from the narthex into the main part
of the church
 Batism and Nativity are shown in the quarter domes of the squinches
 Clumsier stone, brick construction with small windows, thicker walls, and varied ornamental
patterning

South America

South America and the Andean Coast

Cradle of Civilization- Sechin Bajo. Peru (ca.3500 BCE and later)

Large scale culture (even earlier then Stonehenge) developed since the Sechin Bajo.

Caral, Peru. South America

o Oldest city in the New World

o Runs along a coast. Flourished through trade
o Quipo (Method to encode information) Record to show wealth.
o Each of the major platforms supported ritual rooms on its summit
o Major structures consisted of cut-stone exterior walls nand rubble infill.
o Stones that are made to build pyramids are cut evenly
o Pyramids are 20 meters high
o String is woven in between the stones/ Could be shock absorbers during
earthquakes
o Evidence of producing flutes

Chavin de Huantar (ca. 900-400 BCE)

 Major highland, ritual site located at confluence of rivers

 Enlargement of temple creates axial path from low to high including Black and White
staircase and the Falcon Portal (suggests importance of balance)
 Sanken Plaza – New plaza.
 Ancient Andin Civilization
 Temple wall is adored with a Jaguar sculpture which is a symbol of power
 Stone tablets surround the main square/ Carved tablets depict ritual scenes of the
temple
 Impressive stone monument and 2km maze entrance
Old Temple with Lanzon
 Ventilation shafts and drains form sophisticated system
 Had ritual significance through sound
 Jaguar symbol of power and royalty in Southern America
 The Mochica

 Original Structure may have had over 140,000,000 bricks and was the largest structure in the
Americas at the time
 Images on walls, ceramics, and other artwork suggest rituals of sacrifice; recent
archaeological excavation have uncovered skeletons
o Pyramid of the Sun (began ca. 100CE)
 Larger than Pyramid of the Moon but has been eroded away
 Largest structure at the time in Mesoamerica
 Built with stacks of 140,000,000 bricks
 Makers marks on bricks suggests they were constructed by many
groups of highly organized laborers
o Pyramid of the Moon (began ca. 100 CE)
 Due to the dryness of the climate, even elements like sun dried bricks which
decay quickly under rain can survive here almost indefinitely. (designs on
brick suggest violence and sacrifice-from uncovered skeletons)


The Nazca Plain (ca. 500 CE)

 Clearing surface layer of earth and rocks from the lins, revealing light material
beneath
 Hummingbird design can not be visible from eye level, the zoomorphic figures can
be understood only be height
 Could be offering to the deities or the making of it is a ritual activity with a meaning
itself (Act of doing something is very important ritual)
 Connection between Nazcan people and Amazon as there are no monkeys in Nazca
 Centres associated with water or astronomical alignments
 Researches using drones recently have discovered dozens of geoglyphs, any
apparently made by the Paracas people before the Nazca culture

https://open.spotify.com/track/14pjnaIqkpReO5D0tHofAS?si=rUKGBDwxQMip2yXZRYV1tQ
merica

Highly populated with extremely large variety of culture; some characteristics are shared by many
people (deities, ball game, calendar, maize cultivation)

Ball games- played with a heavy solid rubber ball and ceremonial attire for ritual purposes.
Losers being sacrificed, in the shape of contact capital

Calendar – for agriculture but can also be used as ritual calendars

The Olmecs and La Venta

o Oldest of the large scale population of ancient Mesoamerica

o Olmecs are the ‘mother culture ‘of Mesoamerica
o Developed rubber which are also used throughout Mesoamerican in later ages
o Characterized with Big heads, shown through ‘Colossal Head’. Wears a head gear

La Venta. Mexico (ca. 600-400 BCE)

o Artificial mountain, major ceremonial site

 o Represents origin of the site of the first humans
o Mosaic Pavement . There is many layers underground
o Not visible to earthly humans, relation to underworld. Double merlon motif
represents gate, here probably a portal between natural and supernatural space.

Throne. La Venta. Mexico (ca. 600-400 BCE)

o Diagonal markings on top represents the sky

(skyband)
o In between the skyband there is something that
looks like a jaguar (supernatural animal that can link
the supernatural to the human world)
o Cave under, human emerging
o Buried Mosaic- Massive offering covered with
Adobe bricks and clay
o Underground there are rectangular blue green jade stones.
o Offering is not visible to humans, suggests it was a representation of that
first emergence of the first humans into this world
o Double merlon motif represents gate, probably a portal between natural
and supernatural space
o Tomb brought 80 miles away from a volcanic mountain to the south, shows
they have the capabilities to travel long distances with large items
 Mountains were symbolically important

Monte Alban. Mexico (ca 500 BCE-700 BCE)

 1500 ball courts throughout Mesoamerica

and they span different cultures and
different eras. Were still used to the
Aztecs which were the last of the great
empires
 Largest Zapotec site and center for over
1000 years. Shows many attributes to
 Houses of about 50,000 people
o Oaxaca located on top of a hill
surrounded by a valley and
surrounded by mountains
o Zapatec builnt on top of hill to create a huge plaza which are surrounded by
temples
 Mesoamerican culture and architecture
 Mostly built next to each other orthogonally, and mostly rectilinear
o One building is off axis, observatory
 City filled with large scale constructions shown through Plaza (1000x450ft
and Temple complexes
 3km long Western north defensive wall
 Attracts villagers from the area to grow into a major city; new type of
settlement in the region
  “Dazantes”, art designs on stones are depictions of prisoners or victims of war
 Most people lived on the slopes

Teotihuacan. Mexico (1st century BCE-8th century CE)

 Greatest city in pre-Columbian Americas, one of the largest in the world at the time
 Aztecs believed it was a sacred place where the sun and moon was created thus
named the site Teotihuacan “City of the gods”
 Began 2000 years ago and abandoned in the year of 750
 Serpent shape resembles the flow of a meandering river (Large eyes, jaguar like
tusks, rules the underworld)
 Believes to regenerate life. Believed the underworld earth and heaven are
connected and constantly rotating
 Sacrificial of living human hearts allows the sun to come again
 Believed that the underground and heaven are linked and that they are constantly
rotating
 Placement of pyramid of sun related to the movement of solar patterns (Also centre
of worship)
 Hold their hands up and open their palms towards the sun
o Pyramid of the Moon
 Recently found underground secret tunnel 49 ft long
o Great Avenue (Avenue of the dead)
 Stretches for more than 3 miles, overall conception of the city is
large
 Pyramid of the Sun
o Believed the orientation and the placement of the pyramid is related to the
idea of the movements of the sun (on the longest day of the year, if you’re
standing on the top of the pyramid of the sun, the sun sets right on top of
the mountain in the distance)
o Below sits a cave that is turned into a tunnel. Idea of origin of humans from
underground

Residences

o Centered round a courtyard

o Houses to up to 200,000 people
o Until 3rd century CE, residents use to live in wood, brick housings however is now
changed to stone complexes
o Organized by kin groups and occupation

Talud-tablero is a common architectural motif in Mesoamerica, originated from

Teotihuacan. It is a sign of cultural and political influence of the great city of
Teotihuacan in Monte Alban (shown in many architectures in Mesoamerica).

Temple of Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl) (next to a citadel)

 o Suggested site of mass sacrifice due to large-scale burials found underneath the
temple
o Was intentionally buried, from possibly covering up a change in religion or
government.
o Burials under the Temple of Feathered Serpent and the pyramid of the moon.
Sacrifices accompanied by extravagant jewellery (high status individuals possibly
prisoners)
o Unsure on how the Teotihuacan are ruled
o Common architectural motif found on vertical tablero and sloping talud area

Two remarkable figures (Feathered serpent and reptilian figure)

a. One interpretation: The two deities are Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl, the rain god and the
creator god.
b. Another interpretation: The Temple of Quetzalcoatl illustrates the moment of
creation

Discovery of tunnel with “glitter-covered” walls, liquid mercury, and three chambers that may be a
royal tomb

Skellig Michaels related to Starwars scene pog

Maya + North America Sites

Preclassic 1500 BCE-250BCE

Classic 250-900

Postclassic 900-1524

Builds at incredible large scale much before the classical period (From new discoveries)

Maya cities usually competes which each other, shares similar aspects of

 Glyph writing (uses stylized pictures)

 Played the ballgame
 Observant of astronomers, Astronomical knowledge
 Has a complex calendar
o 260 and 365 day cycles
 Human sacrifice
 Complex, pantheistic religioin (Shares same deities such a rain god, feathered serpent etc.
 Belief in rebirth

Tikal

 Leading city of Classic Maya, covering 50 sq miles with population of up to 75,000

 No overall geometric order or street pattern. Major centre connected by raised causeways
 Houses tomb for ruler Hasaw Cha’an K’awil (731)
  Pyramid has nine levels associated with the nine levels of the underworld
 Under the pyramid, archaeologist found a skeleton of a ruler along with various grave good
such as a Jade vessel and pearls
 Typical Maya house is probably built out of perishable material hence no left overs

Palenque

 Closely connected to Tikal

 Pyramid is broader, less vertical. Floor ground similar as a palace
 Temple of inscriptions tells us about the dynastic history of polarities rulers/ kings of
Palenque
o Secret chamber leads to the tomb of Hanab-Pakal’s the King
o Sarcophagus cover has complex iconography, including Maya glyphs (names of
adminstrators, celestial bodies, and an image of a human figure that appears to be
falling into the underworld)
o Linkage to maya story, identifying as one of the hero twins who would fall into the
underworld and eventually rise up into heaven and become a god
o Believed the kings who are buried here is connected to earlier rulers, all the way
back to a god. It is important for rulers to position themselves as part of this lineage
that begins in the ancient legendary past.
 Flourished during the Classical period under King Hanab-Pakal
 Large panels inside temple gives dynastic


North America

Poverty Point. Louisiana (ca. 1700-1300 BCE)

 Center of a huge network for trade, located on a bluff on the west side (protected
from flooding)
o Copper from Great Lakes
o Soapstones from Appalachians
o Shells form the Gulf
 Built by Hunter gatherer people (not in fact agricultural or famers yet)
 Semicircle of mountains raise platforms for residences
 Bird mound = ceremonial and residential mounds
o Built in three distinct phases, constructed by carrying baskets of earth and
dumping them out
1. Newark Earthworks. Ohio
 Circular architecture lined with yellow soil as the ring
 During wet seasons, forms second circle on the inside
 Connected to Hopewell Earthworks
2. Serpent Mound. Locust Grove, Ohio
 Built by the Adena people in ca 300 BCE or earlier (could be reconstructed)
 Shaped of a serpent. Possibly aligned with the sun
3. Cahokia. Collinsville, Illinois (ca.900-1200 CE)
 Largest site of the Mississippian culture of the Tennessee. Population of 10,000-
20,000 at peak
 Located in the midst of a rich riparian landscape,
  Common rectangular platform mounds, flat tops served as a base for ceremonial
practices and residences of the powerful
 Conical and Ridge Top (Burials of important people and markers of significant
locations)
o Monks Mound – Located in the middle of Cahokia. Most massive work,
height equivalent of a skyscraper. Largest prehistoric urban structure in the
western hemisphere. Enlarged several times over a period of 300 years from
900-1200, then modified slightly over the next 100 years.
 ‘Woodhenge’ marks the site of the sun, used to tell time and the seasons
 Environmental problems lead to decline of the Cahokians

South Asia

Buddhism

Buddhist Sanctuary

Sanchi

 Derived from ancient tomb strctures of piled stone over deceased ashes
 No interior spaces and containing relics
 Ashoka sponsored thousands of Buddhist memorial mounds in the form of domical stupas

Sachi Complex

 Located on a hill above the valley alongside with ttwo other stupa creating a sacred
landscape

Great Stupa

 Located in an open space

 Constructed with brick and rubble with smooth colourfully painted plaster – later cladded
with rough stones and balustrades alongside a processional path.
 Parasol on top indicates the presence of Buddhist relics inside
 For events such as public ceremonies (not just for monks)

East Asia

Bronze Age China: Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE)

Palace Complex at Fengchu, China (Late 2 nd milleninium BCE)

 Architecture grew in scale and complexity

Zhou dynasty

Confucianism – School of the scholars

 Shaped official Chinese culture. Purpose of education was to create an “exemplary person”
through 任 and 理 (doing the proper thing under any circumstances)
 Virtuous individuals become the basis for an improved society
 Confucius believes that any person can cultivate the virtue of ren.
o Building of character is important to create a harmonious society
 o Fundamental to how cities develop in Imperial China

Early Imperial China

 Most of China conquered by Qin Shi Huangdi

 Qin Dynasty was short lived, Han Dynasty continued by his son
o Qin emperor devoted considerable resources to expand the Great Wall along his
empire’s northern and western frontiers
o Regularized trade and languages
o Tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi
 Colossal tomb complex that mirrored the layout of his capital city
 7000-8000 full sized Terracotta warriors including chariots, horses and
weapons. Serve emperor after his death.
 Obsessed with death and immortality

Terracotta Army – Every individual is slightly different

Believed that the Emperor’s Tomb is a replica of the Emperor’s former palace, to provide for the
next life.

2. Han Dynasty (206 BCE -221 CE)

Seen as one of the great ages in Chinese history. The Han rulers expanded their territory to
the south and to the west, where they helped establish the Silk Road trading route.

Architecture were made of wood structures. Wooden skeletal structures, tiled roof.
Developed architecture used all the way to the 20 th century.

3. Buddhism

First introduced into China through the Silk Road. After a conflict at the end of the Han
Dynasty, Buddhism gained many followers.

Grottoes. Mogao, China

Caves were carved into the cliff, with wooden facades erected for protection and
decoration. Shows an idealized monastery, symmetric complex,
flanked by wings and pavilions

Dome of Indian Stupas is interpreted by Chinese builders

Dougong (bracket system) = A post and beam system with

bracketing was the dominant structural system. The bracketing
served both structural and decorative purposes

Walls are not load bearers, force in column

Daming Palace, Chang’an (late 7th century)

 Built to the northeast of the original palace by empress Wu Zetian.

Korea and Japan

o Integration of Buddhism during 57 BCE-668 CE through the Silk Road.

o White Cloud and Blue Cloud Bridges symbolizes the movement of identity into the world in
the land of the Buddha
o Hip and Gable roof/ Decorations polychrome looks colorful. Different color than the material
they were built with

Sokgatap Pagoda. Bulguska Gyeongju, Korea

 Follows Chinese Pagodas and is named for the historical Buddha

 Rectangular layers

Tabotap

 Represents Prabhutaratna, a Buddha of the ancient past, and is derived from Buddhist
reliquaries.
 More circular transition towards the top

Seokguram

 From its position in the mountains, the grotto at Seokguram looks towards the east and the
rising sun.
 4 buddhist figures/ 4 heaveny kings on walls. Relief sculptures in the main chamber to
protect people move to enlightenment
 Main image shows the historical Buddha with the mudra (hand gesture) calling the eaearth
to witness

Architecture became more monumental

Ise Shrine and Shinto (the indigenous animistic religion of Japan)

Amaterasu: the sun goddess to whom Ise Shrine is dedicated. Connection to emperors family with
the sun goddess.

Ropes, idea of a sacred boundary by the Shimenawa. Spirits ae believed to reside in nature, many
sacred areas are demarcated by these ritual ropes.

 The Inner Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess and purported ancestor of the
imperial family
 Rebuilt every 20 years.
o Wooden material tends to decay fast
o Concepts of natural cycles and purification
o Political motives. Imperial family is the primary supporter
 2 vertical, 2 horizontals. Transition to a more sacred space. Surrounded by forests
 Shin no mihashira is a symbolic pillar that is sunk into the ground, directly under the main
shrine building.
 Structure of building complex

 Symmetric in places. Not aligned exactly with the entrance and courtyard.
 Thatched roof, made in wood
 Symbolic chigi and katsuogi (circular beams) on the roofs of the main building

Nara and Todaiji (8th century)

Centre of power and a manifestation of the close relationship between political and religious
power. When Buddhism became fundamental to the Japanese society

Pagoda 3000 ft tall

to the main original buildings of Todaiji were destroyed by fire. The current building was
reconstructed around 1700, and in a different style from the original.

Kyoto

Similar to Nara (unlike Chinese capital cities), the city structure does not have great city walls and
the residential neighbourhoods were not walled either.

Ideal site for a city is mountains on all 3 sides

Temple is far away from court (Emperor planning of site plan)

Islam

Submission to God’s will

Religion: based on the Qu’ran and Muhammad’s teaching. Believes in the one god Allah

Mosque – place of communal prayer

Kaaba- holy site located in Mecca, the holiest shrine of Islam

Mecca

Dome of the Rock

 First monument of Islam built on Temple Mount by the Ymayyad Dynasty whose
capital was constructed in Damascus
 Religious meanings (humble ambition was about gathering communal spirit in the
favor of One God where each person prayed directly to God all together.
 Large hall and fountain for ablutions was neede to prostrate themselves
 Borrowed styles from Roman basilica and Egyptian hypostyle halls
o Political motives: Kufa wanted a new focus for their dynastic rule, significant
new form (Centralizing, religious, and iconic
o Replace the Kabba as the centralizing figure of Islamic culture
o Rival the Christian’s Holy Sepulcher Church
o Arcade symbolizes Islamic motifs with its alternating bands of colored
masonry
Structure: Both circular and octagonal, with four axial entrances.

 Has two concentric ambulatories to accommodate visitors circulating the central rock under
the new dome
 First Temple built over the rock of Abraham’s sacrifice at Mount Moriah
 Believed to eb the ladder to heaven that Muhammad took in a night vision of Jerusalem

Decorations:

 Inscriptions above Muslim invocations with common statements of faith; interlacing Kufic
scripts
 Plant motifs, geometric decorations, and calligraphy

Damascus, Syria

Classical Period Islamic Period

Clear grid lines in Urban form of Pre-Islamic Irregular format, larger streets. Less organized
Ramascus and systematic format
Spatial structure is clear and simple

Mosque

Derived from the Arabic “masjid” meaning “place of prostration (in front of God)”

In addition to provide a place for prayer, mosques typically serve as educational centers

Includes:

Minaret: place to announce prayers// Originally guard towers, became place to announce
prayers

Courtyard: where public gathers// articulated with arcades on two levels

Covered prayer hall: for prayers// Great Mosque

Minbar: Podium (pulpit) that refers back to Prophet’s wooden seat in Medina// Podium that
refers back to Prophet’s wooden seat in Medina

Qibla: Direction toward which one prays (Qibla wall – towards Mecca)

Mihrab: Niche in the wall that marks the place of prayer – closest towards Mecca // Shaped
like a doorway with a half-dome above

Treasury: Arcane orthogonal building that stores community wealth

House of the Prophet

Built on the location where his camel rested on

Great Mosques at Damascus

Reused an existing Greco-Roman Palace Temenos next to the palace

Originally a site of roman temple to Jupiter

Shows images of paradise

Islamic architecture: pointed arches along with bands of different stones, and arnamental non-imge
abstract patterns

Horseshoe arch was an alternative to the Roman arch, not specifically Islamic. Roots in Visigothic
spain and during the Gupta period in India.

Interior of Great Mosque

 Shows its roots in the Roman Basilicas and Christian Churches

 Slightly pointed horseshoe arches
 Great Hall with double height space
 Decentralized under one flat roof that unifies the ceiling
 Corinthian columns are reminiscent of Byzantine architecture as well

Great Mosque of Kairouan, similar to Hagia Sophia with decorative columns

Plan in a slightly skewed parallelogram, adjusting to the position of existing surrounding structures

Area in front of mihrab

Exquisite domes with crisscrossing arches were constructed

New mihrab which evolves into a hexagonal domed chamber like a Christian chapel.
Arches has cusped lopes and intermediary arches

Minaret transformed into a Baroque styled bell tower for the new church

Medieval Landscape

o Lords owned land and offered protection to the peasants who worked the land
o Peasants provided labour and surplus to the lords


Norman Conquest: Society, Cities, and Architecture

 Norman rulers fundamentally changed society by

o The agrarian, village-based system supplanted by town-centered boroughs
o 400-500 new towns, many with castles at center
o Increase in commerce
 o Much more sophisticated architecture (castles, churches)

Churches

 Prior to the Norman Conquest, church architecture in England was relatively modest.
 Most major churches were destroyed or modified after 1066

St. Laurence, Bradford on Avon

 Simple layout with Nave (main congregational space), Chancel (Alter area), and a
north porch
 Walls are flat planes
 Shallow arcade suggests Roman influences
 Simple masonry, little ornaments
 Little truss roof structure

St. Etienne, Caen, France

Two facades from Normity

Durham Cathedral

 Large complex plan compared to other Saxon church in England

 Follows a Romanesque architecture, loosely inspired by ancient rome
 Has rib vaults, complex vaulting system (major structural and spatial innovation) compared
with earlier English buildings

Castle

 Residential and military functions

 Dover, created after the Norman invasions. Prior to Normans, there are lots of ring works
(simple circular defensive buildings)
 Huge boom in castle development after the Normans
o Motte and bailey
o Keep
o Inner courtyard wall and moat

Bayuex Tapestry – Huge tapestry that shows scene of the Norman conquest.

o Motte is a mound, bailey is a kind of enclosure (wooden fortification). Relatively easy to

build and is very cheap (made from timber)

Royalty: foundation of royal castles, usually in existing cities

Major lords: granting of lordships by king to individual lords, who then build own castles in
countryside

Knights: granting of land by lords to their knights

Castles are used to keep control (more than just military constructions)

 Appropriation and replacement of existing centres of powers

 Creation of symbol of authority: castles show rank and dignity of lord
 Attempts by lords to expand their territory
 Location of castle is important

o If the castle is a symbol of your authority, it should be not at a place in the middle of
nowhere
o If you want to help control trade and make money from taxing trade, you have to put in in
your trade route
o Low grounds are bad locations defensively as people could attack your castle from high
grounds by projecting arrows and oil on the castle

Tower of London

 built inside a corner of the old Roman city wall.

 Built during the reign of William the Conquerer
 Impress visitors
 Exterior appearance and internal arrangements suggest a defensive purpose
 Large windows date a much later era, when the keep functioned mainly as a residence.
(used to have small windows as castles are more defensive)
 Chapel- Simple, massive forms and round arches characterize Romanesque architecture

Dover Castle

 Gate and outer walls provide outer line of defense

 After the siege of 1216, stronger gates, additional stone walls, and tunnels are built for
weaker points
 Last refuge, small windows that are high off the ground
 No big front door but there are a winding set of steps to make it hard to enter into the Keep
 Great Chamber was one of the two large rooms inside the keep. The King held court in the
Great Chamber, and the Great Hall is served as a waiting room.

Beaumaris Castle. Anglesey, Wales (begun 1295)

 Begun by Edward I in his campaign to subjugate Wales, but never finished after his resources
are shifted elsewhere
 Symmetric, has two layers of walls (High inner walls- defensive). Has Motte
 Served as a place where the king would live. Large openings in gatehouse (normally the
openings would be small to fit arrows and the attackers cannot fight back)

Similarly the Krak des Chevaliers. Qalaat el Hosn, Syra (1100-1220)

 Crusader castle using advanced fortification techniques

 Military advanced structure
 Built on top of a hill (steep climb up the hill) Natural Glacis
 Defensive thick wall
 Closely spaced towers, trap doors
 No obvious front doors
 Concentric layers of defensive walls. Invaders can be fired upon at every stage
Stonehenge

Çatal Hüyük

Ziggurat of Ur

Pyramids at Giza

Mohenjo Daro

Palace at Knossos

Temple 1, Citadel, and Yazilikaya at Hattusas

Buildings of the Acropolis, Athens

Persepolis

Forum, Pompeii

Pantheon,

Rome

Colosseum,

RomeSt.

Peter’s Basilica

Hagia Sophia

Skellig Michael

Palatine Chapel

Nazca Lines

Chavín de Huántar

Monte Alban

Teotihuacán

TikalCahokia

Sanctuary at Sanchi

Kandariya

Mahadeva

Borobudur

Angkor Wat

Tomb of Emperor Qin

Chang’an (Tang capital)

Bulguksa Ise Shrine

Dome of the Rock

Great Mosque of Damascus

Tower of London

Krak des Chevaliers

Ste.-FoySan Miniato