Timeline - Ancient World and Architecture

Architectural styles from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome have had a major influence on building designs around the world, shaping both the look and structure of buildings. Egyptian architecture, with its monumental structures like pyramids and temples, set the foundation for large-scale construction. Greek architecture refined these ideas, especially with the use of columns and the development of styles like Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, which influenced temples and public buildings. Roman architecture, with its innovations in engineering such as arches, vaults and domes, changed construction methods and allowed for bigger, more durable buildings, including aqueducts and amphitheatres. Vitruvius, a Roman architect, advanced these ideas, emphasising symmetry and proportion, which are still important in modern architecture. This architectural heritage can be seen in buildings around the world, including in Timaru, where classical influences are visible in civic buildings, churches and homes. The evolution of these styles shows how ancient ideas have shaped modern construction.

Ancient Egypt:

• c. 3100 BCE – Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Narmer (Menes).

  • Architectural milestone: Early development of mudbrick structures and monumental architecture, including mastabas (early tombs).

• c. 2650 BCE – Reign of Pharaoh Djoser (Third Dynasty); architect Imhotep designs the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the first monumental stone building.

  • Architectural milestone: The Step Pyramid is considered the first pyramid structure, marking a key moment in the evolution of Egyptian monumental architecture.

• c. 2550 BCE – Construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).

  • Architectural milestone: The Great Pyramid is the largest pyramid and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It demonstrates advanced engineering, alignment, and construction techniques.

• c. 2490 BCE – Construction of the Pyramid of Khafre and Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza.

  • Architectural milestone: The Sphinx is also constructed, symbolizing the pharaoh’s power and divine nature.

• c. 1479 BCE – Reign of Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s most successful pharaohs.

  • Architectural milestone: Construction of the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, a significant example of temple architecture with terraced structures.

• c. 1350 BCE – Reign of Akhenaten and the introduction of monotheism (worship of Aten).

  • Architectural milestone: Aten Temple at Karnak, which features open-air courtyards instead of the typical enclosed temples.

• c. 1290–1224 BCE – Reign of Ramses II (Ramses the Great).

  • Architectural milestone: Construction of Abu Simbel temples, carved into the rock, as well as monumental buildings like the Ramesseum.

• c. 1070 BCE – Beginning of the Third Intermediate Period; Egypt’s power declines.

  • Architectural milestone: Decline in monumental architecture; focus on smaller tombs and temples during this period.

Ancient Greece:

• c. 800 BCE – Greek Dark Ages end; Greek city-states begin to form.

• c. 776 BCE – First Olympic Games held in Olympia.

• c. 500 BCE – Classical Greece period begins; rise of city-states like Athens and Sparta.

  • Architectural milestone: Development of the Doric order of columns.

• 490 BCE – Battle of Marathon; Greek victory over Persia.

  • Architectural milestone: Construction of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens (c. 449 BCE).

• 431–404 BCE – Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.

  • Architectural milestone: The Parthenon is completed on the Acropolis of Athens (c. 438 BCE).

• c. 338 BCE – Philip II of Macedon unites Greece under Macedonian rule.

• 336 BCE – Alexander the Great ascends to the throne, begins conquests.

• 323 BCE – Alexander's death; the Hellenistic period begins, with his empire divided.

  • Architectural milestone: Introduction of the Corinthian order of columns during the Hellenistic period.

• 146 BCE – Greece becomes a Roman province after the Battle of Corinth.

Ancient Rome:

• 753 BCE – Legendary founding of Rome by Romulus.

• 509 BCE – Roman Republic established after the overthrow of the monarchy.

  • Architectural milestone: Construction of early Roman temples, like the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus (c. 509 BCE).

• 390 BCE – Rome sacked by the Gauls.

• 264–146 BCE – Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage.

  • Architectural milestone: The Roman Forum begins developing as the center of public life.

• 49 BCE – Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, leading to the fall of the Roman Republic.

  • Architectural milestone: Caesar’s building projects, including the Forum Julium.

• 27 BCE – Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor, marking the start of the Roman Empire.

  • Architectural milestone: Construction of the Pantheon (c. 27 BCE), originally built by Agrippa and later rebuilt by Hadrian.

• 64 CE – Great Fire of Rome under Emperor Nero.

  • Architectural milestone: Domus Aurea, the vast imperial palace built by Nero after the fire.

• 117 CE – Roman Empire reaches its greatest territorial extent under Emperor Trajan.

  • Architectural milestone: The Trajan’s Column and Trajan's Market built (113 CE).

• 284 CE – Emperor Diocletian divides the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves.

• 476 CE – Fall of the Western Roman Empire; Romulus Augustulus is deposed by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer.

Vitruvius:

• c. 90 BCE – 20 BCE – Vitruvius, a Roman architect and engineer, writes De Architectura (Ten Books on Architecture), the only surviving major work on classical architecture.

  • Architectural milestone: Vitruvius' De Architectura becomes a foundational text in architecture, emphasizing proportion, symmetry, and the "Vitruvian Triad" of firmitas (strength), utilitas (utility), and venustas (beauty).

  • Vitruvius' Role: Vitruvius worked as an architect under Julius Caesar, though his exact relationship with Caesar is not well documented. He may have had a role in the construction of military structures, such as fortifications or siege machinery. His theories contributed to the Renaissance revival of classical architecture, influencing later architects like Leonardo da Vinci and Andrea Palladio.

Rediscovery and Translation of Vitruvius:

• c. 1414 – The manuscript of De Architectura is rediscovered in Italy, sparking interest in Vitruvius' work.

• c. 1486 – The first printed edition of De Architectura is published, which helps make Vitruvius' ideas widely accessible.

• c. 1500s – The work is translated into several languages, including Latin, Italian, French, and German, influencing the Renaissance architects like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Andrea Palladio.

• 16th Century – Vitruvius’ principles become central to Renaissance architecture, especially the idea of symmetry, proportion, and the classical orders of columns.

• 18th Century – The ideas of Vitruvius continue to be influential, particularly in the development of Neoclassical architecture across Europe and America.