Ah, to build, to build!

That is the
noblest art of all the arts. Painting
and sculpture are but images, are
merely shadows cast by outward things
on stone or canvas, having in
themselves no separate existence.
Architecture, existing in itself, and not
in seeming a something it is not,
surpasses them as substance shadow.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The man who creates its all, the master builder, I salute thee before I
begin
history of
architecture
Kulkarni
History as a subject would remind people of those school days were
mugging up names, years etc . were a tedious activity
was quite contrary to my expectation . The history of the
magnificent art of architecture in itself was a mesmerizing experience. From
the prehistoric structures to the St. Peters Basilica , it enlightened me with
different cultures , religions and styles . All thanks to Prof. for
those beautiful explanations and slides. His love for sketches and art
provided a great boost to the understanding of the subjects.
We would like to thank the Dept. of Architecture for facilities and
opportunities made available to us.
Special thanks go tour families, friends and classmates without
whose support this would not have been possible.
Nothing is complete without thanking the Lord Almighty for His
guidance and blessings.
history of architecture iii
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history of architecture iv
outline
pre-historic architecture
egyptian architecture
west asian architecture
greek architecture
roman architecture
early christian and byzantine architecture
romanesque architecture
gothic architecture
renaissance architecture
epilogue
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This portfolio peeps into the architecture of the western world before the industrial
revolution. It touches the tip of an iceberg but lets one to know the major revelations
in the field of architecture.
History comes alive in architecture. It has been well named the Mistress Art, for it
creates the opportunity for the other visual arts to flourish. It is also a veracious record
of the ways and beliefs of all manner of men, of habits, tastes and circumstances of
life, and of racial aspirations and abilities - artistic, military, or commercial - of whole
peoples. It reveals more fully than other arts the degree of skill attained by
civilizations, and, by nature of its ruins, marks the varied fortunes of a nation, the
quality of its government and rulers, an the wisdom or ignorance of its conquerors.
Music, poetry, and dramatic art may in a benign climate be independent of
architecture, but the they are sustained and encouraged by larger audiences when
shelter transcends the cave and the hut .
But at the same time another question arises - is architecture an art or a science? This is
not an easy question to answer, because the two elements combine in all buildings:
without science buildings are unlikely to have any structural permanence: if they lack
art, people would not find them beautiful enough to allow them to remain over the
years. Since the appreciation of architecture tends to be based on a buildings form
rather than its function, it is judged visually- on its artistic merit - and so the observer
inevitably makes personal subjective judgements. Based on their own view of what is
beautiful, and on their received information of what others judge to be beautiful, the
observer interprets, misinterprets and reinterprets architecture. What one person may
think is beautiful, the next may find repulsive: it is this subjective decision- making
that encourages the very creativity that has influenced architects for centuries.
What distinguishes a style? This question is frequently asked but seldom can a
definitive answer be given; every architect draws his inspiration from a myriad of
influences and no two is same. Similarly as architect will not always use the same
combinations again. Like art form, architecture is continually evolving.
The influences on any particular style comes from diverse sources, often unrelated but
seldom separated. The political environment in which the building was deigned plays
of the greatest roles - because of planning legislation or stronger socio - political
context of the environment. Many styles have evolved out of opposition to the existing
political position, as a reaction to what the proponents see as repressive societies. The
suppression of the arts - ane the free thinkers who create it - is usually the first step of
an extremely political regime. Despite this, the involvement of politics with
architecture can often lead the intensive creativity and the development of influential
styles and movements - sometimes as result of repression but also as a product of
patronage. Architectural movements encompass a variety of artistic fields, including
not only fine art but philosophy as well. The prominence of a particular style or
movement is solely dude to political patrons.
This portfolio is the summary of my understanding of the various styles in the history
of western architecture. It also represents my appreciation of their aesthetical
excellence and their technological brilliance.
history of architecture prologue v
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e u q s e n a m o R

























n a i t p y g E
WEST-ASIAN

k e e r G
n a m o R
e n i t n a z y B
c i h t o G
e c n a s s i a n e R
3000 BC - 1 AD
3000 BC - 331BC
650 BC - 30 BC
300 BC - 365 AD
330 AD - 453 AD
313 AD - 800 AD
Early Christian
900 AD - 1200 AD
1200 AD - 1600AD
1500 AD - 1900AD