ARTH119

Description

This course is a chronological and thematic survey of the history of architecture and urban environments spanning the Prehistoric age through the Gothic period in the Mediterranean region. The main objectives for students will be to gain a specific familiarity with the styles, parameters, and characteristics of specific works of architecture, some knowledge of building practice, function, and historical context, and to acquire technical vocabulary related to the field. Some of the topics covered in this course include prehistoric architecture in Europe and the Mediterranean, architecture of the ancient Near East, Egyptian architecture, Minoan and Mycenaean architecture, the classical architecture of ancient Greece, ancient Roman architecture throughout the empire, the Early Christian architecture of western Europe and Byzantium, early medieval Western European architecture, Islamic architecture, and Romanesque and Gothic architecture of Western Europe. Selected major individual buildings and architectural complexes will be emphasized and will include types of buildings/complexes such as the sanctuary, temple, tomb, forum, basilica, cathedral, monastery, and castle. Architecture will be analyzed with regard to materials, construction, engineering and design, and in the contexts of a variety of cultures, societies, and urban / rural settings. Political, economic, religious, ethnic, and gender-related issues will be presented as they are part of the dynamics contributing to building of these structures.