Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE AUD2212

 
TITLE The Architecture of the Ancient World

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT History of Architecture

 
DESCRIPTION Aims:
 
Through this study-unit, the student will gain theoreticaland visual knowledge about the prehistoric origins and subsequent development of architectural achievement in the ancient world,based on a timeline which will cover prehistoric building traditions, the architecture of ancient Egypt and the Middle East and the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, all presented in their respective geographical, socio-political and cultural context.
 
Learning Outcomes: 

Knowledge and Understanding:
  
The visual material that will be presented in this study-unit will enable the student to better understand how the architecture of the ancient world reveals the start of a long story about mankind’s changing requirements of shelter and worship, about his eternal quest for perfectbeauty, about his needs to organize space and about his evolving skills in discovering,utilizing and inventing structural systems, materials and construction methods to satisfy these and related requirements.

Skills: 
By the end of the study-unit, the student will be able:
  
To understand that the architectural history of the ancient world forms an integral part of the training of professionals concerned with the built environment since the basic problems of design and construction are unchanging so that an acquired knowledge of how these problems were faced in the past helps in solving them now and in the future.

Main Readings

Fletcher, Sir Banister. A History of Architecture. Edited by John Masgrove. London, 1987
Daniel. G.E. The Megalith Builders of Western Europe.London, 1963
Smith, W. Stevenson. The Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt. Harmondsworth, 1967
Preziosi, D. and Hitchcock, L.A. Aegean Art and Architecture. Oxford, 1999
Lawrence, A.W. Greek Architecture. Harmondsworth, 1954
Wheeler, R.E.M. Roman Art and Architecture. London, 1964

Supplementary Readings 

Adam, J.P. Roman Building – Materials and Techniques. London, 1989
Mellaart, J. The Earliest Civilisations of the Near East. London, 1967
Mellaart, J. Catal Huyuk. London 1967
Frankfort, H. The Art and Architecture of the Ancient Orient. Harmondsworth, 1954
Kahler, H. Rome and her Empire. London, 1963

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 20%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Denis De Lucca

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit