LESSON ON THE ORIGIN OF THE

BASILICA

By Christa Guilbaud
Learning Theories for Instructional
Design
December 9, 2009

GAGNES NINE EVENTS OF

INSTRUCTION

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Gaining attention
Informing the learner of the objective
Stimulating recall of prior learning
Presenting the stimulus material
Providing learning guidance
Eliciting the performance
Providing feedback
Assessing performance
Enhancing retention and transfer

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY
Learner activities include:

Leaner will recall their prior knowledge of a church

Will review a partial list of basilica vocabulary with definitions
State the origins of the church basilica through group and
class discussion
Will name component features by labeling a floor plan
through group and class discussion
Identify component parts of the basilica when shown
representations in photos or other digital media through
group and class discussion
Interact with digital media on their computers
Respond to essay questions that express comprehension of
the basilica

INTRODUCTION TO THE BASILICA

PLACES OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

SOME BASILICAS ARE MODEST IN

DESIGN

BASILICA WITH RADIATING APSES

You may be familiar with a churchworship, toured, pictures, seen at

a distance, know someone.

What can you tell me about a

church?

Have you heard other terms

referencing a Christian church?

NON EXAMPLE OF A BASILICA

NON EXAMPLE OF A BASILICA

BASILICA

What is a basilica?

Does anyone know where the basilica

came from?

Is anyone familiar with how it came

to refer to a Christian church?

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?

The origin of the basilica.

Examine the architectural design of
the basilica.
Review related terms and
architectural elements and functions
of participants of the basilica.
Discuss examples of the basilica.

ORIGIN OF THE BASILICA

Old Roman Basilicas were re-designed: They were public buildings

originally located in the Forum and used for government business

After the first centuries, the worshippers of Christianity grew and

became more accepted. Before then, the early Christians met in
the homes of the wealthier followers and other locations.
When the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, it
became the State religion, larger places of worship were built in
both the Western and Eastern Empires. The older Roman basilicas
were redesigned to become churches.
The first plans called for a long, brick building with a wooden roof.
At the front of the structure was an atrium or a courtyard with a
covered walkway around it. Entrances were at the corners in the
back of the structure. The nave or central part of the basilica was
for worship. It was flanked by side aisles, separated by a row of
columns. Windows were located above the columns which flooded
the room with light. The apse was a semi-circular area in front of
the nave. It was covered with a half-dome. The altar was placed in
the center of the apse and always had a canopy or baldachin

BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS AND CONSTANTINE

Ancient Ruins:
Basilica of Maxentius
and Constantine

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BASILICA

OF
MAXENTIUS AND CONSTANTINE

BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS FLOOR PLAN:

RECONSTRUCTION

ISOMETRIC DRAWING OF THE BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS AND CONSTANTINE, ROME.

FIRST CHRISTIAN BASILICA

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-san-giovannilaterano

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE ::
ROMAN BASILICA FLOOR PLAN

A LATER BASILICA FORM

INTERIOR OF SANTA SABINA

Early Christian, timber roofed,

basilica. Rome, 5th century.

BASILICA OF ST. PAUL, ROME (385 AD)

BASILICA: VIRTUAL TOURS

http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Docs/SPB
-VirtualTour3.htm#enter

http://savannah.arounder.com/en/city-to
ur/cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist.htm
l

http://pisa.arounder.com/en/city-tour/
dome-side-nave.html

REVIEW

Origin of Basilica
Architectural design of the basilica.
Key terms: Apse, Nave, Transept,
Atrium functions of participants of the
basilica.
Discuss examples of the basilica

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/023
25a.htm
http://faculty.cua.edu/Pennington/Reli
gion402/Architecture/RomanBasilica.htm
http://www.mariamilani.com/ancient_ro
me/basilica.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/to
pic/55117/basilica