ARCH V20 — History of Architecture
This course surveys developments in architectural traditions from their beginnings to the contemporary moment. Areas under study include the earliest structural forms of prehistory as well as ancient global traditions from Asia, Mesopotamia, Africa, and the Americas. Also considered are Ancient Greek and Roman contributions, the architecture of Monotheism (including Early Christian, Islamic, Byzantine, Medieval, and Gothic styles), and Renaissance, Baroque, and Revival traditions (like Neoclassicism, Neo-Gothic). The course culminates with an exploration of Modernism and Post-Modernism in global context. Topics under consideration focus on critical analysis of the factors impacting the development and use of architectural styles and forms as well as the relationship between architecture and geographic, ecological, and environmental; technological; religious; and/or socio-economic factors. Emphasis will be placed on spatial analysis and identifying and analyzing form and function (and the relationship between the two) in context.