Professional Documents
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The Historical Timeline of Architecture
The Historical Timeline of Architecture
The Historical
Timeline of Architecture
Egyptian Byzantine
NEAR EAST
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN Near East Islamic
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC
RENAISSANCE
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL
20TH C MODERN
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
Islamic
• Muhammad died in 632 AD, but his Muslim followers
were ready to spread his teachings
• Concerted efforts by conquering Arabic tribes to spread
Islam
• North into Central Asia
• Westward to Africa
• Along trade routes into India
• Among the Turks and Mongols
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture
NEAR EAST
INFLUENCES
EGYPTIAN
GREEK
HISTORY
ROMAN
• The religion of Islam began in Arabia
EARLY CHRISTIAN SOCIETY
• 610 AD, Muhammad from Mecca saw visions of an angel
BYZANTINE • Message from Allah to stop worshipping false idols and • Tribal groups
ROMANESQUE to accept the will of god “Islam” • Public life was reserved for men (women had a
GOTHIC • Arabs of Mecca rejected this message secondary role - for domestic and agricultural work)
RENAISSANCE • Christians and Jews ("people of the book“) were given
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL • 622 AD, the Hegira - Muhammad moved to Medina and the freedom of worship and self-government
20TH C MODERN converted the people into Islam
• Within 10 years, the framework of religion and military • Many of the conquered cities were already centers of
ISLAMIC
organization tasked with spreading the faith was learning
INDIAN • Muslims translated into Arabic many scholarly writings
established
CHINESE & JAPANESE from Greek, Persian and Indian
• Medina then fought Mecca and in 630 AD destroyed all
FILIPINO
its idols and converted it to Islam • Rulers and scholars were interested in mathematics,
astronomy, geography, medicine, philosophy and science
Islamic
RELIGION ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
• Last of 3 great religions of Middle East
• Complete philosophy of life and government DESCRIPTION
• One god Allah, Muhammad is the prophet • Countries already rich in building tradition
• Faith is held to be Allah's will for creation • Product of the rapid conquest of diverse territories by a
people with no architectural tradition
• Acceptance of the transitory nature of earthly life • Synthesis of styles under one philosophy but in many
• Personal humility different circumstances
• Abhorrence of image worship
Islam had a profound impact on its architecture:
• No essential difference in techniques between religious
and non-religious buildings
• Important architectural endeavor is normally expended
on buildings having a direct social or community purpose
• Decorations tend toward the abstract, using geometric,
calligraphic and plant motifs, with a preference for a
uniform field of decoration rather than a focal element
• Basic conservatism discourages innovations and favors
established forms
• Symmetry and balance (as in the concept of perfect
PRE-HISTORIC
history of architecture
creation)
NEAR EAST • Centered upon God
EGYPTIAN • Related to a principal axis, the kibla, pointing towards
GREEK Mecca
ROMAN
EARLY CHRISTIAN
BYZANTINE
ROMANESQUE
GOTHIC Koran
RENAISSANCE • Muhammad wrote down the words of angels who brought
18TH-19TH C REVIVAL him messages from Allah
20TH C MODERN • After his death, these accounts were compiled into a holy
book
ISLAMIC
• Speaks of the power of Allah, to accept his will and to DECORATION
INDIAN praise him • in lieu of human and animal forms: abstract and
CHINESE & JAPANESE geometric motifs, calligraphy, floral abstraction, geometric
FILIPINO • 5 Pillars of Islam: Declaring faith in god, Prayer, Fasting, interlacement, mouldings and friezes, carvings in bas
Giving to charity, Pilgrimage to Mecca relief, stone inlay and mosaic, patterned brickwork,
• Also jihad or holy war is sometimes added as a pillar to ceramic and glass mosaic, painting, timber inlay,
spread the faith and defend it from attack Arabesques, screen or pierced grilles in marble
Islamic
EXAMPLES PARTS OF A MOSQUE
MOSQUE
• The prophet Muhammad called on people to honor Allah
in prayer - mosques were built wherever Islam had spread
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO
Dar al-Imara and Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo The Great Mosque, Cordoba
• 876 to 879 AD • 785 AD
Islamic
SARAY or SERAI TOMBS
• Palace with courtyard
ISLAMIC
INDIAN
CHINESE & JAPANESE
FILIPINO The Alhambra, Granada (1338 to 1390 AD)
• Fortified palace and complex of buildings set in gardens
• One of most elaborate and richly decorated Islamic Tomb of Humayun, Delhi
palaces • 1565 AD