Foundations | Summary

The foundation of a structure must be built well for the structure to stand. Likewise, the foundations of civilization and architecture had to reach a certain point- a breaking point of sorts- to stand. Through time, across land, advancements were made, benefiting the next generation and civilization. Each civilization laid a foundation for the next. Together, these early advancements laid the foundation for all to come.
The earliest known civilization to make a great, lasting contribution to Western architecture are the Egyptians. It is easy for one to see how far back in time this civilization thrived and assume it is primitive. Actually, quite the opposite is true. The Egyptians achieved a great deal of complexity in their structures and lifestyle. Interestingly, however, they were resistant to change, partially due to religious reasons. This along with a scarce variety of building materials meant their structures did not develop perhaps as much as they could have. Overlooking this, they did achieve the building of the great pyramids and massive temples, showing the power of the gods and government. The great pyramids at Giza “were the most visible part of extensive surrounding funeral complexes” (Roth 2007), as well as their flat desert environs. They built much with post and lintel construction, including the hypostyle halls. With limited construction technology and materials, they were unable to achieve large open spaces.
To some extent, the Greeks were obsessed with achieving perfection in their environment. They achieved great theaters, cleverly built into the sloping landscape. They, somewhat borrowing from the Hypostyle Hall of the Egyptians, used a Megaron, consisting of “an entry porch… a vestibule [court]… a raised circular hearth” (Roth 2007) as the foundation blueprint for their structures, especially temples. The megaron style consisted of a porch, court, and a hearth. This layout can still be seen in homes and structures today. They devised and perfected the orders-- Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—which became standards in Western architecture from that time forward, later appearing in Rome and even later in Gothic cathedrals, stretched out and soaring upwards. The Grecian civilization has influenced Western society more than any other ancient civilization.
In contrast to the Greeks, the Romans were obsessed with achieving perfection on their environment. Rome accumulated achievements of other civilizations and used them to their advantage, as is evidenced by the fact that, “Both in form and in ornament Roman design was based on Greek prototypes” (Blakemore 2006). This partially happened because of the vastness of the empire. They, however, took what was sacred and used it as decoration, such as the use of orders on the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Coliseum: “stone arcades incorporated columns- unfluted Doric on the ground floor, then Ionic, Corinthian, and finally Corinthian pilasters on the uppermost, fourth story” (Roth 2007), which also shows hierarchy through time. They took the hard work and importance of the Greek orders and made them structurally insignificant, creating pilasters and sometimes editing them to their liking. This did not mean they did not find them meaningful. Their buildings, like the Egyptian ones, were visually heavy and demanding of attention. However, unlike the Egyptians and Greeks using the post and lintel construction method, Romans were able to achieve large, open spaces, helped by the use of concrete, domes, arches, and arcades. They were very large, helped by the use of concrete, domes, arches, and arcades. The important buildings were strategically placed where no other structures butted up against them, making them look larger and more prominent in their surroundings, and allowing for more people to gather around them. This was part of the “bread and circuses” scheme, keeping the public entertained and aware of the power of the government so they remained ignorant of political turmoil.
Each civilization laid the foundation for the ones to come. Together, the Egyptian, Roman, and especially Greek civilizations laid foundations that can be clearly seen in today’s societies, governments, artifacts, buildings, and even regions laid out.


Roth, Leland, M. (2007). Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History, and Meaning. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

Blakemore, R.G. (2006). History of Interior Design & Furniture: From Ancient Egypt to Nineteenth-Century Europe. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.