|
In the study of the arts and sciences, architecture
ranks highly as one of the most fundamental and
practical subjects based on human culture. Architecture
is the living proof of the persistence of man's ideas
with the passage of time. Back in prehistoric times,
early man lived in caves. Many years later, simple huts
were erected to replace the caves as places of dwelling.
The earliest known huts were found in Russia and were
made from mammoth bones.
As more time passed, man learnt to build stronger and
bigger buildings. These
served as temples for worship or as tombs for important
people. Between the years 2700 B.C and 2200 B.C., the
Egyptians built massive stone pyramids which are still
standing today, some four thousand years later, to honor
their gods and pharaohs. These pyramids are one of the
seven wonders of the world.
Wood was a popular building material with the Chinese
and the Japanese. Many Buddhist temples were built from
wood. The roofs of these buildings were covered with
tiles that curved gently upwards. Wooden Japanese houses
still retain the same design as those constructed
centuries ago. Rooms in such houses are divided by paper
screens.
In India, the Hindu temples are the pinnacle of
Indian architecture. Huge, carved statues of Hindu gods
decorate the pillars and the roofs of these temples.
Greek architecture from the period 450 B.C to 400 B.C
has greatly influenced western designs. Ancient Greek
buildings were well-known for their beauty and fine
proportions. the Greeks were fond of using columns to
support the roofs of their buildings.
During the fourth century, much of Europe was under
siege from her enemies. Kings and noblemen resorted to
building strong castles to protect themselves. These
castles had thick walls, high towers and small windows
to discourage invaders. Another feature was the
inclusion of a moat around the castle. Access to the
castle was only via the drawbridge which would be
lowered and raised accordingly to admit traffic in and
out of the castle. As more and more European countries
became stable politically, European architects shifted
towards a style that highlighted grace and beauty
instead of protection.
It was not until the turn of the twentieth century
that architects realized the appearance of a building
must be closely related to its function. New techniques
and new materials were thus used to create more
interesting designs. |
