History of Architecture 1

introduction
History of architecture is a record, a
study that interprets Architecture.
It studies its forms and purpose and
more importantly its evolution.
 The history of Architecture enables us to
understand the society and culture they
represent which is very useful when working
as a Contemporary Architect. Because it
allows an Architect to consider a building or
a city as more than a visual phenomenon
and therefore the Architect would have a
more fundamental and culturally inclusive
approach to architecture than based purely
on architect’s own taste or style.
History of Architecture will help an Architect
be more creative and flexible overall. Good
Architecture is always needed at any point in
time because there will be a time when our
Era will be the discipline they’ll be trying
understanding
INFLUENCES ON ARCHITECTURE
Geographical
Geological
Climate
Religion
Social and Political
Historical
 Geographical
The civilization of every country has been largely
determined by its geographical conditions, for the
characteristic features of the land in which any
race dwells shape their mode of life and thus
influence their intellectual culture.
 Geological
This trace that influence on architectural style
which the materials at hand in each/country had
in its development. The natural products of /a
country such as wood, brick, or stone, determine
to a large extent its style of art.
 Climate
“the temperature and the meteorological conditions of a locality”.
“climate” could be substituted with “macro-climate”, and “micro-
climate”. Macro-climate denotes the general meteorological
conditions of a region or country and accounts for the major
phenomena of the region. “Micro-climate” denotes the
meteorological conditions local only to a particular place, like the
radiation, air currents at ground level, temperature, humidity and
precipitation peculiar only to a limited area. It is the latter which
architects have to encounter and intimately know, so that they do
not compete against it, but go along with it and derive the best
results from its beneficial qualities, and guard against the ravages of
its undesirable qualities. It can be said to be the part of nature, that
immediately surrounds a building and enters it, not just superficially
but deep into its character.
 Religion
The history of architecture is concerned more with
religious buildings than with any other type, because in
most past cultures the universal and exalted appeal of
religion made the church or temple the most
expressive, the most permanent, and the most
influential building in any community.
 Social and Political
Architecture can control the way we understand the world,
looking at architectural history the relation between the
monumental architecture and political power can
consistently be seen. Architecture gives us the choice to
visualize mentally and support societies to create systems
that shows their social and cultural traditions and practices.
Hence, leaders use it to express the way that they
understand reality and express how they crave to be seen by
the people and enforce their opinion and view and carry
their power over the populace. old centuries used
architecture in a way to exude power and domination in
order to keep their legacy as a society with power and
wealth in the world.
 Historical
It deals with how a civilization came to in order to
familiarize human beings with the activities of
their ancestors as the source of inspiration and
their motivation for creation and construction.