Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

The goals of this course are broad: a) to introduce students to the breadth and variety of Architecture History; b) to provide them with the appreciation of architecture as an element of culture, and explain its critical role in shaping cultural discourse; c) to outline the relationship of architecture with other cultural spheres including art, philosophy, religion, ideology, and technology; d) to understand the classical elements of architecture; e) to aid each student in acquiring historical knowledge as a resource for their own work in the future; and f) to help them develop critical thinking and writing skills. Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their own education. Teamwork and initiative will be required and encouraged, in order to provide a collaborative learning environment.

The course consists of three main activities: thirteen or fourteen lectures on the History of Architecture, 3 seminars on specific buildings related to the theoretical lessons and a graphic studio where these buildings will be reconstructed by the students. There are office hours as well, and the possibility to do field trips, or site/building/museum visits.

5.2. Learning tasks

1. LECTURES. Attendance to lectures is strongly recommended. The course is roughly divided in FOUR SECTIONS:1) Prehistory and the Ancient World; 2) Greek Architecture; 3) Roman Architecture; 4) Paleo-Christian, Byzantine and Islamic architecture; 5) Romanesque architecture; 6) Gothic Architecture.

Throughout the course, the MOODLE platform will be used to update the recommended readings for each session, as well as to post grades and further readings. Student should check MOODLE every week.

2. SEMINARS AND STUDIO. Attendance to seminar and studio classes is strongly recommended. Seminars and Studio are two hours per week. The class is divided in groups of no more than 25 students each. As stated 3 seminars on specific buildings related to the theoretical lessons and a graphic studio where these buildings will be reconstructed by the students.

3. OFFICE HOURS. The teachers will provide six hours of office time available per week. The purpose of these hours is to solve any doubts the students may have on both the theoretical or practical part of the course. In no case will office hours be used as a substitute for the lectures, the seminars or the studio.

4. EXCURSIONS AND TRIPS. An excursion to visit buildings, sites, or museums related to the topics of the course may be scheduled during the semester.

5. VOLUNTARY ESSAYS. The students have the possibility to write short essays (should be 1.000 words long) to increase their grade. The writing should be an analytical comparison between two buildings (or architectural settlements).

6. MID-TERM EXAM: It will cover the topics explained from week 1 to week 6/7 (depending on the final course schedule). The exam will typically consist of three parts: a) image recognition: the student will have to be able to recognize the images being shown, and provide the following data, if applicable: name of the work, architect / commissioner, date, style, and a short description of its main architectural features; b) nomenclature: identification of building parts providing accurate terminology; c) Long questions, where the students will have to build a discourse addressing the points asked. The number and relative grading of these parts may vary.

7. FINAL EXAM: will cover the topics explained from week 8 to week 15 and the required readings. The structure of the exam and its contents will correspond with the ones described for the mid-term exam.

5.3. Syllabus

The course dates and overall schedule will be specified in a .pdf file with which the students will be provided in the introductory session. Although the topics will be as stated below, the specific contents and organization of each session may vary.

INTRODUCTION [I]: Course Presentation

INTRODUCTION [II]: ARCHITECTURE BEFORE GREECE - Prehistoric architecture and the Ancient World.

GREECE [I]: ARCHAIC GREECE - Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations / Origins and constitutive elements of the Greek Temple.

GREECE [II]: CLASSICAL GREECE 

ROME [I] /  Greece [III]

ROME [II]: BUILDING AN EMPIRE - Arches, Vaults, Domes

ROME [III]: Civil Construction (II), Domestic architecture, and Urban Planning

PALEO-CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE [I]: from Constantine to the Sixtine Renaissance and Hagia Sophia

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE [II]: Byzantium after Justinian.

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE: From the Omeya Emirat to the Alhambra.

ROMANESQUE [I]: Pre-romanesque and Romanesque architecture in France

ROMANESQUE [II]: Regional Romanesque Architecture | GOTHIC [I]: Introduction

GOTHIC [II]: Gothic architecture in France and England

5.4. Course planning and calendar

Week 1: INTRODUCTION [I]: Course Presentation o Presentation of the course: Syllabus, calendar, practical classes, evaluation method, online resources, bibliography. o Introduction to the Theory and History Area.

Week 2: INTRODUCTION [II]: ARCHITECTURE BEFORE GREECE - Prehistoric architecture and the Ancient World. o From the cave to the hut, to the house: megalithic architecture. o The Ancient World before Greece: Sumer, Assyria, Babylon, Israel, Persia, Minor Asia Menor and Syria, Egypt.

Week 3: GREECE [I]: ARCHAIC GREECE - Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations / Origins and constitutive elements of the Greek Temple. o Minoan and Mycenaean culture. The Hellenic Empire. o The Hellenic Empire. The Greek temple as a canon.

Week 5: GREECE [II]: CLASSICAL GREECE - Evolution of the Greek Temple / The Acropolis o Evolution of the Greek Temple and evolution ofthe orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian. Other typologies. o The Acropolis of Athens.

Week 6: GREECE [II]: HELLENISTIC GREECE | ROME [I]: From Etruria to the Roman Temple o Greece [III]: From Athens to the expansion of the Hellenistic culture. Other typologies (II). Urban planning. o Rome [I]: From Etruria to the Empire. Etruscan architecture. The Roman Temple.

Week 7: ROME [II]: BUILDING AN EMPIRE - Arches, Vaults, Domes o Materials and construction techniques. Vaulted structural systems. o Maxentius Basilica, Caracalla's thermae, and the Pantheon.

Week 8: ROME [III]: Civil Construction (II), Domestic architecture, and Urban Planning o The Forum in the Roman City: Fora, Theatres, Amphitheatres, Circuses. o Domestic and Funerary architecture.

Week 9: PALEO-CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE [I]: from Constantine to the Sixtine Renaissance and Hagia Sophia o Paleo-Christian Architecture: Catacombs, basilicas, centralized buildings. o Byzantine architecture [I]: From the early structures to Hagia Sophia.

Week 10: BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE [II]: Byzantium after Justinian. o Byzantine architecture after Justinian. o Late byzantine architecture.

Week 11: ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE: From the Omeya Emirat to the Alhambra. o Seminar: Public presentations: Assignment P3 o Islam (I): From the Omeya Caliphate to the Taj Mahal. o Islam (II): Islamic architecture in Spain.

Week 13: ROMANESQUE [I]: Pre-romanesque and Romanesque architecture in France o Pre-romanesque architecture: Carolingian Renaissance. o Romanesque in France.

Week 14: ROMANESQUE [II]: Regional Romanesque Architecture | GOTHIC [I]: Introduction o Regional Romanesque: France, Spain and Italy. o Birth and evolution of the Gothic Style.

Week 15: GOTHIC [II]: Gothic architecture in France and England o Gothic architecture in France: From Notre Dame de Paris to the Rayonnant. o Gothic architecture in England.

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

Basic bibliography:

ROTH, Leland M.: Entender la arquitectura. Sus elementos, historia y significado. Gustavo Gili, Madrid, 1999.

TRACHTENBERG, Marvin, y HYMAN, Isabelle: Arquitectura. De la prehistoria a la postmodernidad. Ed. Akal, Madrid, 1990.

Specific bibliography:

CASADO DE AMÉZUA VAZQUEZ, Joaquín: Las Casas Reales de la Alhambra. Geometría y Espacio: Una Aproximación al Proceso de Formación del Espacio. Granada: Editorial Universidad de Granada, D.L. 2012

CHUECA GOITIA, Fernando: Historia de la arquitectura occidental I. De Grecia al Islam. Ed. Dossat, Madrid, 2000.

CORZO SÁNCHEZ, Ramón: Visigótico y Prerrománico. Madrid: Grupo 16,1989

KOSTOF, Spiro: Historia de la arquitectura Vol. 1, Un lugar en la tierra, Alianza, Madrid, 2007.

MANZANARES Rodríguez, Joaquín: Arte prerrománico asturiano: síntesis de su arquitectura. Oviedo: Tabulariun Artis Asturiensis, 1964

NORBERG-SCHULZ, Christian: Arquitectura occidental, Gustavo Gili, Barcelona, 1999.

ORTEGA ANDRADE, Francisco: Historia de la Construcción. Libro Segundo: Romana y Paleocristiana. ETSA de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1993

ROTH, Leland M.: Entender la arquitectura. Sus elementos, historia y significado. Gustavo Gili, Madrid, 1999.

TRACHTENBERG, Marvin, y HYMAN, Isabelle: Arquitectura. De la prehistoria a la postmodernidad. Ed. Akal, Madrid, 1990.

Complementary bibliography:

ASIMOV, Isaac: Los griegos. Una gran aventura. Alianza, Madrid, 1981

ONTANELLI, Indro: Historia de los griegos. Debolsillo, Barcelona, 2007

OLALLA, Pedro: Historia menor de Grecia. Una mirada humanista sobre la agitada historia de los griegos. Acantilado, Barcelona, 2001

SPAWFORTH, Tony: Los Templos Griegos. Madrid: Ediciones Akal, Colección Grandes Temas, 2007

ORTEGA ANDRADE, Francisco: Historia de la Construcción. Libro Cuarto: Visigoda e Islámica. Capítulo "La Construcción Musulmana", apartado 5.1: 'La mezquita y sus elementos formales'. ETSA de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1993; 410-417