March Into Ancient Rome!

       Ancient Rome was an Italic civilization located on the Italian Peninsula. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered in the city of Rome, ancient Rome became a catalyst for growth and was soon one of the greatest powers West of China.

They had the power...

       Ancient Rome dominated Western Europe, Southern Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa, and parts of Northern and Eastern Europe. Civilization went from a monarchy, to republic, and finally to an autocratic empire. Being one of the most powerful sources within the ancient world, we often find Rome grouped in "Classical Antiquity" along with ancient Greece. Their similar styles of society and  culture deem them to be Greco-Roman world.

Everlasting contributions...

       Many Roman names are still remembered today; Julius Caesar, Augustus, etc. Society was a model of  government and law, military strategy, and roads and architecture. Their buildings used the post and lintel construction method, which was then supplemented with the discovery of concrete! Archways, domes, and vaults were designed and built for the first time. Concrete allowed for faster build and for larger scale projects. Aqueducts, public recreational buildings, memorials, tombs and temples, and basilicas were built.

Extensive roads with specific construction methods

Cement structures and aqueducts

Several types of common vaults

Today's modern architecture

Monumental Buildings

• Colosseum - Built in 80 A.D. and seats at least 50,000 people. Made of concrete and stone, arches and barrel vault styles were used. All 3 classical orders are present. It is one of the first prototypes of a sports arena, gladiator fights and cultural events were held here. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

• Pantheon - Built in 126 A.D. and was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa and rebuilt by emperor Hadrian. This ancient Roman temple has a rotunda (circular floor plan and dome) with a portico (porch) of large granite Corinthian columns that are supporting a pediment. The Pantheon is most famous for having the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome and its oculus within the rotunda. The height of the oculus and the diameter of the inner circle are the same at 142ft. Theoretically, the whole interior would be able to fit perfectly inside a cube!

A perfect Sphere

Inspired by the past

  

• Maison Carree - Built in 16 A.D. and is located in the South of France. This building was also reconstructed by Marcus Agrippa. It is one of the best examples of a Roman temple due to how well preserved it is. An example of Vitruvian architecture, this temple sits on a podium and is rectangular in shape, almost twice as long as it is wide. Having a deep portico, the facade of the building is nearly one third the length of the entire structure! This building has gorgeous details that have lasted the harsh years.

Residential Dwellings

• Insula - Similar to apartment style buildings we are familiar with. They were built with bricks and surrounded by the city streets. Usually 5-6 stories high with balconies and the ground floor held shops. There was no plumbing, poor light, and fires from cooking were a great danger. Living on the higher floors may have been less expensive, but at the possible price of your life.   

• Domus - These living quarters were better than the Insula. They were for the upper class and wealthy. These residences commonly had decorative marble, marble inlays, door jambs, columns, wall paintings and frescoes. The interior consisted of multiple rooms, courtyards, and gardens. These homes had slanted roofs.

• Country Villa - Some families that lived in a domus also owned country villas as a secondary vacation-like home. Upper class lived in this type of home, similar to domus, but larger. There was a common living area, servant area, and storage area. There were two kinds of country villas, either a villa that was close to the city or a villa that was further away and in which the tenants were more permanent.

Furniture

       Wood, metal, and stone materials were used in constructing furniture. Popular items included chairs, sellas or stools, thrones, tables, etc. The Cathedra chair was similar to the Klismos chair from Greece, but it was not as feminine. 

Cathedra Chair

Sella

Fun Fact - Concrete Disappeared!

       Many ancient Roman innovations vanished for thousands of years after the fall of the empire. Roman technology was amazingly ahead of its time, but trade secrets were kept and died with their owners. The most famous is concrete, which actually vanished for centuries and was not adequately reproduced until the early 1800's. 

Until next class!

          

Fly on over to Greece, a Classical Civilization!

      The classical Greek period had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire and was the beginning of Western civilization. Worth of the individual, democracy, independence, and artistic thought were just some of the new themes emerging. In the context of culture, art, and architecture during ancient Greek times, the period of time from which Great Alexander died until the Roman Empire came about is also known as the Hellenistic period. (323-330 B.C.)

What it was like...

      Greece is mountainous and surrounded by three seas. This caused competition among many of the communities, trade complications, and there were many independent governments. The summers were hot and the winters were very bitter. Greek agriculture consisted of grain, grapes, olives, and salt. The golden age occurred from 480-400 B.C.. The classical orders of architecture emerged and the building of the Parthenon was substantial. 

      Built in 447 B.C. when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power, the Parthenon was dedicated as a temple of goddess Athena. It is recognized as the most important surviving building of Classical Greece. The Parthenon is looked upon as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece and western civilization. 

Goddess Athena

Parthenon

       Although these columns look equal in size, and as though they are the same width throughout, they are not in actuality. The architects of this time really focused on the art of how we see and perceive things. They were masters of developing balance and creating structures that are pleasing to the eye. A few examples are that the corner columns are actually heavier than those in between, the center of the column is the widest part, and the distance between columns is actually not spaced equally. 

Classical Order   

       The classical order is one of the ancient styles of classical architecture, and is most recognized by the type of column used. There are three orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. 

Basic structure of the three types of columns.

• Doric originated from 7th century Western Greece, it is the simplest of the three orders. Short round capitals with no base. 
• Ionic order came from Eastern Greece and is more complicated in design than that of the Doric order. You can immediately tell an Ionic column from a Doric if you see a scroll design, known as volutes. This style is taller and more feminine than the Doric order.
• Corinthian style order is the most complicated and intricate. Not only does it have scrolls, but the presence of acanthus leaves adds much ornate elegance to the capital. There are 24 flutes on the shaft of the Corinthian order column. There is a story behind the acanthus leaves and how the design came to be.

A Typical Greek Home

       Mud brick, stone foundation, wooden framework, and terracotta roofs were the norm. The Greek did as much as possible to limit heat from the sun and hot air. There were separate male and female areas within a home. Most homes had a compluvium (hole in ceiling) and a cistern that would collect rain water. The floors were plastered and painted, mosaic techniques were also used. The walls were mud bricks, plastered and painted with floral motifs and marine life scenes. Other popular motifs were the egg and dart, and the Greek key. Paint applications consisted of the Dado, main field, and cornice. The "Trompe l'oeil" techniques in which paintings looked realistic were very common. Interior architecture included high windows, doors, and coffered ceilings. 

      Greek furniture consisted of tables, beds, couches or klines, storage pieces, and the Klismos chair. Furniture construction used materials such as wood, iron, bronze, copper, leather and cords. Inlays of gold, ivory, marble, and gems were also common. 

 The Klismos Chair

    This chair was made of wood and is most popular for its splayed legs. Made for women, this chair is known as one of the most graceful chairs. This style of chair and many variations are still seen today!

More Greek influence we see today...

Fun Fact - Tennessee!

      This is an exact replica of the actual Parthenon, and it's located in Tennessee! Let's go! : )

Until next class!

Ancient Civilization: Egypt - Discussion

After looking through several other blogs, I've come to like Hannah and Paige's posts.
You can check them out here:

Hannah - http://www.history1hje.blogspot.com/2014/01/week-1-ancient-civilization-5000-bce.html

Paige - http://www.history1peh.blogspot.com/2014/01/ancient-civilization-egypt.html

I like how Hannah clearly exemplified how we still use much of what was learned and in how furniture was made in ancient Egypt. She really showed great examples of what we use today and how it can all be traced back many ages ago. 

Paige's blog post delved into the hypostyle architecture. She showed a great photo with support columns and beams. It was easier to understand the use of hypostyle after seeing things from her perspective. 

Trek Through Egypt, an Ancient Civilization!

       It was around 4,000 B.C. when larger cities in Egypt were developing and becoming secure and stable. This was all thanks to their development of agriculture and farming, in which they could provide their own resources for survival. With less effort needed to find food and water, the people of Egypt could now apply themselves to other areas, complex inventions, and the arts!

A bit about the setting...

      An integral part of Egypt was the Nile River. Communication and trade along the river took place, especially the trade of wood building materials. The availability of timber was scarce and therefore was imported from the Mediterranean, North Africa, and West Asia. Wood joinery was soon developed.  

     The climate was dry with minimal rainfall and there was little variation in temperature. Being the perfect setting for preservation, it's no wonder why we have so many artifacts!

      Egyptians worshiped specific gods. They created monuments, temples, and tombs. They buried objects with their deceased and believed in life after death. Temples most commonly had relief carvings in walls and columns.

     Society had hierarchical statuses that went somewhat like: kings, pharaoh, priests, craftsmen, peasants, and slaves. They lived in palaces (pharaoh), country villas (upper class) , craftsman residences, and average residential spaces. Most living spaces had cellars in order to store food and keep them cool in the intense heat. Country villas commonly had a loggia, which is a room or porch that is open to air on at least one side and usually faces an inner courtyard.

Digging deeper into the architecture...

     We know that wood was scarce, so what else did they really use to build?! When wood was used, stone was usually incorporated as well, leading to the development of the Post and Lintel system. An abundance of mud was used to create walls, or to make bricks. The mud plaster walls were usually covered in frescoes of figures and life scenes, and used brights colors. Walls were divided between the dado and main field, lots of yellow and black colors used. Floors were also made of mud plaster, brick, and stone. The colors were more subdued. Ceilings were also decorative with plant life as a design inspiration. Doors had crowning and windows had openwork screens. Furniture was minimal yet are similar to pieces we are familiar with today. Beds, tables, storage, folding chairs, stools, etc. were among the usual. The wood joinery technology developed included mortise and tenon joints, dovetail joints, and dowels. These are methods we still use today! All in all, we still see plenty of Egyptian influence around us, whether it's in art or architecture, or furniture. 

Fun Fact - Rosetta Stone!

This stele (stone standing upright in religious temple) was found in the town of Rosetta in Egypt. It was carved in 196 B.C. with an agreement between priests and the Egyptian government. It was written in three different scripts that were used in ancient Egypt at the time. Sound like the Rosetta Stone we know?! : )

Until next class!