History and Theory of Architecture

  1. Medieval Architecture
    1. Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture
      1. Adaptation of Roman Forms
        1. The Basilica Plan
          1. Old St. Peter's
            1. Santa Maria Maggiore
            2. The Central Plan
              1. Santa Costanza
                1. San Stefano Rotondo
              2. Byzantine Innovations
                1. The Pendentive
                  1. Structural Solution
                    1. Transition from Square to Circle
                    2. The Squinch
                      1. Alternative Transition Method
                      2. Hagia Sophia
                        1. Dome Construction
                          1. Light and Space
                            1. Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius
                            2. Mosaics and Interior Decoration
                              1. Iconography
                                1. Ravenna Mosaics
                                  1. San Vitale
                                2. Regional Variations
                                  1. Coptic Architecture
                                    1. Armenian Architecture
                                      1. Russian Orthodox Architecture
                                    2. Islamic Architecture
                                      1. Core Building Types
                                        1. The Mosque
                                          1. Hypostyle Plan
                                            1. Iwan Plan
                                              1. Central-Plan Mosque
                                                1. Mihrab and Minbar
                                                2. Madrasa
                                                  1. Educational Function
                                                    1. Courtyard Plan
                                                    2. Caravanserai
                                                      1. Trade Route Architecture
                                                      2. Palace
                                                        1. Residential and Administrative
                                                      3. Key Architectural Elements
                                                        1. The Pointed Arch
                                                          1. Structural Advantages
                                                            1. Decorative Variations
                                                            2. Courtyards (Sahn)
                                                              1. Climate Response
                                                                1. Social Function
                                                                2. Minarets
                                                                  1. Call to Prayer
                                                                    1. Symbolic Function
                                                                    2. Domes
                                                                      1. Construction Methods
                                                                        1. Symbolic Meaning
                                                                        2. Muqarnas
                                                                          1. Honeycomb Vaulting
                                                                            1. Decorative Function
                                                                          2. Regional Variations
                                                                            1. Umayyad
                                                                              1. Dome of the Rock
                                                                                1. Great Mosque of Damascus
                                                                                2. Abbasid
                                                                                  1. Samarra Mosque
                                                                                    1. Palace of Ctesiphon
                                                                                    2. Moorish
                                                                                      1. Great Mosque of Córdoba
                                                                                        1. Alhambra
                                                                                          1. Giralda Tower
                                                                                          2. Mamluk
                                                                                            1. Cairo Architecture
                                                                                            2. Ottoman
                                                                                              1. Süleymaniye Mosque
                                                                                                1. Sinan's Architecture
                                                                                              2. Decorative Arts
                                                                                                1. Calligraphy
                                                                                                  1. Geometric Patterns
                                                                                                    1. Arabesque
                                                                                                  2. Romanesque Architecture
                                                                                                    1. Context: Pilgrimage and Monasticism
                                                                                                      1. Pilgrimage Routes
                                                                                                        1. Santiago de Compostela
                                                                                                          1. Rome
                                                                                                          2. Monastic Orders
                                                                                                            1. Benedictine
                                                                                                              1. Cluniac Reform
                                                                                                                1. Cistercian
                                                                                                              2. Architectural Characteristics
                                                                                                                1. Thick Walls
                                                                                                                  1. Structural Necessity
                                                                                                                    1. Defensive Function
                                                                                                                    2. Small Openings
                                                                                                                      1. Structural Limitations
                                                                                                                        1. Interior Atmosphere
                                                                                                                        2. Round Arches
                                                                                                                          1. Roman Influence
                                                                                                                          2. Barrel Vaults
                                                                                                                            1. Stone Construction
                                                                                                                            2. Groin Vaults
                                                                                                                              1. Structural Advantages
                                                                                                                              2. The Radiating Chapel
                                                                                                                                1. Pilgrimage Function
                                                                                                                                2. Monumental Sculpture
                                                                                                                                  1. Tympanum Reliefs
                                                                                                                                    1. Capital Decoration
                                                                                                                                  2. Regional Variations
                                                                                                                                    1. French Romanesque
                                                                                                                                      1. Sainte-Foy at Conques
                                                                                                                                      2. German Romanesque
                                                                                                                                        1. Speyer Cathedral
                                                                                                                                        2. Italian Romanesque
                                                                                                                                          1. Pisa Cathedral Complex
                                                                                                                                          2. English Norman
                                                                                                                                            1. Durham Cathedral
                                                                                                                                        3. Gothic Architecture
                                                                                                                                          1. Origins in France
                                                                                                                                            1. Abbey of Saint-Denis
                                                                                                                                              1. Abbot Suger
                                                                                                                                                1. Light Theology
                                                                                                                                              2. Structural Innovations
                                                                                                                                                1. The Pointed Arch
                                                                                                                                                  1. Structural Advantages
                                                                                                                                                    1. Height Achievement
                                                                                                                                                    2. The Ribbed Vault
                                                                                                                                                      1. Weight Distribution
                                                                                                                                                        1. Construction Method
                                                                                                                                                        2. The Flying Buttress
                                                                                                                                                          1. External Support
                                                                                                                                                            1. Aesthetic Integration
                                                                                                                                                          2. The Pursuit of Height and Light
                                                                                                                                                            1. Stained Glass Windows
                                                                                                                                                              1. Chartres Glass
                                                                                                                                                                1. Sainte-Chapelle
                                                                                                                                                                2. Clerestory Windows
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Natural Illumination
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Skeletal Structures
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Reduced Wall Mass
                                                                                                                                                                  3. Phases of Gothic Style
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Early Gothic
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Notre-Dame de Paris
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Laon Cathedral
                                                                                                                                                                        2. High Gothic
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Chartres Cathedral
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Amiens Cathedral
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Reims Cathedral
                                                                                                                                                                              2. Rayonnant Style
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Sainte-Chapelle
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Rose Windows
                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Flamboyant Style
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Late Gothic Decoration
                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Regional Variations
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. English Gothic
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Perpendicular Style
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Westminster Abbey
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. German Gothic
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Cologne Cathedral
                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Italian Gothic
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Milan Cathedral
                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Secular Gothic Architecture
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Castles
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Defensive Evolution
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Château de Vincennes
                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Town Halls
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Civic Pride
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Brussels Town Hall
                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Guild Halls
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Economic Power
                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Universities
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Oxford and Cambridge

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Previous

                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Prehistoric and Ancient Architecture

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Go to top

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Next

                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Renaissance and Baroque Architecture