Ancient to Medieval Architecture

Catalog description

A survey of Prehistoric, Ancient Near Eastern Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, Early Medieval, Romanesque, and Gothic architecture. ARTH 201 Ancient to Medieval Architecture (3) (GA;IL)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. This course is an introduction to architecture from the Prehistoric to the Gothic periods. 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 Mycenean architecture, the classical architecture of ancient Greece, ancient Roman architecture throughout the empire, the Early Christian architecture of western Europe and Byzantium, early medieval architecture, Middle Byzantine architecture, Islamic architecture, and the 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 culture, society, and urban or rural setting. Political, economic, religious, ethnic and gender-related issues will be presented as they are part of the dynamics contributing to many of these structures. The course has no prerequisite and is intended for both students of architecture/art and students unfamiliar with the field. This course also serves as an introductory foundation course for students in the arts, particularly architecture and landscape architecture. The companion course to ARTH 201 is ARTH 202, "Renaissance to Modem Architecture," which examines Western architecture after A.D. 1400. ARTH 201 is a required course for the Major in Art History and the Interdisciplinary Minor in Architectural History.