MODULE 3 Prehistory First Civilizations Architectural beginnings Module

MODULE 3 – Prehistory & First Civilizations Architectural beginnings Module 1 Architectural History 1

Where do we come from? We, as Homo Sapiens, have been around for over 200, 000 years. From our birthplace in Africa, we have migrated all over the world. Source (1) This is not to say that our relatives were not elsewhere in the world, long before us. Module 1 Architectural History Source (2)

Why did we migrate? No one knows for sure, but just prior to the first migration 60, 000 to 70, 000 years ago, some estimates say that there were as few as 10, 000 Homo sapiens left alive due to a very difficult Ice Age. Civilization starts here Module 1 Architectural History 3

By the way what do all of those letters mean? What is the meaning of AD, AC, BCE and CE? AD = Anno Domini or Year of our Lord referring to the year of Christ’s birth. You might also see this as AC = After Christ BC = Before Christ. CE = Common Era and is a recent term. It is used in place of A. D. The dates are the same i. e. , 2009 AD is 2009 CE. BCE = Before Common Era. For example 400 BC is 400 BCE.

Anthropologic Periods Paleolithic before 8200 BC Mesolithic 8200 – 4800 BC Neolithic 4800 – 2200 BC Bronze Age 2200 – 100 BC Iron Age 100 BC – present Stone age – use of stone for making implements Use of bronze, early writing – early urban civilizations Use of iron or steel to make implements, writing – Sanskrit, Chinese

One of the earliest shelter structures discovered: The huts of Terra Amata located near Nice, France 400, 000 – 300, 000 B. C. [in the Paleolithic Era] (paleo=old; lithic=stone) A stone age hunt camp. Huts were made of branches tied together. Only traces remain today. Reconstruction is based on post holes and rocks around the perimeter. Inhabited by our relatives the Neanderthals

How did we survive? Early hunter-gatherers followed their food source Ø migrating herds • of woolly mammoths, aurochs, bison, horses Ø seasonal plant growth such as fruit and grains • • • Most of wild land biomass is: dangerous to hunt or difficult to gather indigestible or even poisonous low in nutritional value tedious to make edible 3. Cro-Magnon Dwelling, Ukraine Module 1 Architectural History 7

After the last Ice Age – survival becomes a bit easier Agriculture is developed – and we don’t need to be mobile anymore We are become CIVILIZED! Civilization starts here Module 1 Architectural History 8

Agricultural Cultivation - WHEN? WHAT? • After 10, 000 BC • Gatherers no longer relied on chance encounters with edible plants • purposely sow —> seeds to produce food • Bringing land under cultivation enables it to support 10 to 100 times more people. • Domesticating animals introduced readily available source of protein, nonfood products, natural fertilizer, and work power. • Agriculture (Farming) • Growth of Cities • Division of Labor (Specialization) • Trade • Writing and Mathematics Module 1 Architectural History

In-Class Exercise: BUILDING AS EARLY MAN • Using the material provided, create a wall system that can shelter families and tribes that are able to plant and domesticate animals. • Upload a photo of your group’s work in the In-Class Exercise Drop Box in Slate. Module 1 Architectural History

SO WHAT? ! This means that we start laying down roots and creating permanent places to live. WHERE? (where are we going to look at buildings? ) Module 1 Architectural History

Early River Valley Civilizations Environment Sumer (Mesopotamia) Egypt Indus Valley China • Flooding of Tigris and Euphrates is unpredictable • No natural barriers • Limited natural resources for making tools or buildings • Flooding of the Nile is predictable • Nile an easy transportation link between Egypt’s villages • Deserts were natural barriers • Indus flooding is unpredictable • Monsoon winds • Mountains, deserts were natural barriers • Huang He flooding is unpredictable • Mountains, deserts natural barriers • Geographically isolated from other ancient civilizations

Indus Valley Civilization • • During the Bronze Age One of the three Old World Civilizations Modern-day Pakistan Where: Harappa, Indus Valley Module 1 Architectural History

What’s important? Some of the first industrial architecture: The Great Granary – may have had a religious use 2450 BC Corbeled drain at Mound ET gateway – water management infrastructure

• Workmen's platforms - were first thought to have been used to thresh grain or indigo dye • Made of baked bricks, with a wooden mortar (or basin) in the middle • These would have originally been inside buildings Harappa, Indus Valley

Mesopotamia – “Between Rivers” • • • During the Bronze Age Known as the cradle of civilization One of the three Old World Civilizations Modern-day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait Where: Sumer and the Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian empires Module 1 Architectural History

Code of Hammurabi – 1794 BC • First law or building code that states an eye for an eye • If a building collapses and somebody dies, the architect is responsible for repaying a similar loss of life. Top of Hammurabi Steele shows the king worshipping before a seated god. Also inscribed on various clay tablets.

• Ur is a Sumerian city, now modern-day Iraq • The area is believed to be one of the spots where early writing began • Very large, and opulent city • Important because of trade with other regions

Beyond housing • The ziggurat at Ur - 2100 BC • This image shows it largely reconstructed • Constructed of baked brick and mud brick • Purpose: administrative and religious

Note the heavy exterior wall surrounding the area – 5000 BC

• • Catal Huyuk – flourished in 7000 BC with a population of 10, 000 One of the best-preserved ruins and is a UNESCO World Heritage site Modern-day Turkey No streets, houses were accessed by openings in the roof, which were also the chimneys • Walls were plastered inside, markets developed on the rooftops

Çatal Hüyük, Turkey - Interior Reconstruction of a shrine

Egypt and the Nile • During the Bronze Age • It is one of six civilizations globally to arise independently • One of the three Old World Civilizations • Modern-day Egypt, in northern Africa • Where: the fertile valley of the Nile • Many different kings = periods of strength and stability followed by periods of instability Module 1 Architectural History

Egypt The pyramids at Giza

In-Class Activity Now it’s your turn! In groups of As, Bs, Cs and Ds – come together and discuss the most important points of the video that you watched. Use sticky notes and place them on the board. Next, decide as a group the three most important points that your classmates need to know. Make a Power Point slide. Post it to the shared site. Now, make groups with one A, one B, one C, and one D. Share your Power Points and tell them what the most important information that you discovered. THINGS TO CONSIDER: • Include time period • Include names and place names • Address some of the questions that were on your slide • Be interesting and correct!

Ancient Egyptian House Reader’s Digest Everyday Life Through the Ages Page 26

Ancient Egyptian Homes http: //www. crystalinks. com/egypthomes. html

China • During the Bronze Age – the cradle of Chinese civilizations • Yellow River region irrigated in 2200 BC – some evidence/controversy around first known civilizations in the area. • However, the earliest archaeologically verifiable dynasty in recorded Chinese history, the Shang Dynasty, emerged around 1750 BC. • There were two groups of peole: peasants and nobles Module 1 Architectural History

Huts of Banpo Matriarchal Clan Community - 5600– 6700 BC • Found in the Yellow River Valley – this photo is a recreation • The houses were circular, built of mud and wood with overhanging thatched roofs. • They sat on low foundations • The site was surrounded by a ditch or defensive moat

NEXT WEEK: What have we learned from our beginnings? Having researched the challenges faced by our ancestors from the 1 st civilization and seen how technology and culture influenced the shape and form of their architecture, let’s do a little recap activity. In groups, we will have a general discussion about the period. • • How did they build their structures? What materials did they use? How did they try to adapt to the environment? What type of functional spaces did they provide for? Who were involved in the construction of this structures What kind of expression of forms did they articulate? Other questions? Write down how you think you can apply what you have learned from this topic. As a group – you will write on a Post-its 3 -5 potential exam questions.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. http: //www. ethiopianopinion. com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/25 eb 370 c. jpg http: //www. kabt. org/tag/evolution/ http: //www. encyclopediaofukraine. com/display. asp? linkpath=pages%5 CP%5 CA%5 CPaleolithic. Period. htm http: //www. wort-und-wissen. de/sij 112/img/sij 112 -7 -2. gif http: //anthro. palomar. edu/subsistence/sub_5. htm pharoah