Arch 249 Exam 1- Essay Questions
1) Explain the role that geography plays in determining prehistoric building materials
and techniques - ANS-In ancient periods, societies could only build with resources from
local environments/ terrains
EX: megalithic stones in North West Europe vs Mud brick in Egypt and middle East
2) How have the recent excavations at Göbekli Tepe caused us to rethink long accepted
theories about the development of farming, settled village life, religion, and monumental
architecture in the Neolithic Period? - ANS-Theories about the workforce building the
temple needed a reliable source of food might have lead to the transition towards
agriculture and settled villages. However there is no evidence of a settled civilization
around the site which may be because it is a regional gathering site.
3) Using the examples of Jericho and Çatal Hüyük, explain how the architecture and
material remains can tell us about the organization of prehistoric society. - ANS-The two
civilization's use of mudbrick and adobe to create long lasting structures that displayed
cultural values portrays their successfulness and advanced thinking as a prehistoric
society.
4) How would you describe the construction techniques used in the settlement at Çatal
Hüyük? - ANS-Catal Huyuk is a cluster of dwellings built on top of each other with roof
access. The foundation of the settlement is stone, the walls are adobe and sun dried
mud brick.
5) What does the architectural layout tell us about communal versus private space in
this settlement? (Catal Huyuk) - ANS-The roofs acted as public spaces and "streets"
whereas the indoor dwellings were private
6) What role did art (as in "architectural decoration") play in the built environment of
thiscommunity?(Catal Huyuk) - ANS-There as paintings on the walls in the dwellings
that depict murals of bulls, which depicted male fertility, and large women, which depict
female fertility.
7) Describe the technical ability of the people who built Stonehenge. - ANS-There were
no advanced tools, used stones to carve in megalithic stones, dug holes to stabilize
stones
, used post and lintel structuring to stabilize, and used mortise and tenon to stabilize
pieces together
8) What are some of the techniques used to build the stone circle?( Stonehenge) -
ANS-inclined planes and stout ropes
9) Explain some of the current theories about the purpose of Stonehenge and the
evidence to support them. - ANS-Theories
- acting as a calendar in regards to solar solstices
- cremation site due to burial/cremation remains found
- ritual ground for religion
10) Explain how solar alignments (and the corresponding orientation of architectural
elements) would be important for early agricultural communities, using the examples of
Newgrange and Stonehenge. - ANS-Both monuments integrated solar solstices into
design
- for religious/ spiritual significance
- calendars
2.1 How does the design and decoration of architecture in the ancient Near East reflect
power and authority? - ANS-- processional routes
- large magnitude and scale
2.2 How does Persian architecture draw upon the knowledge and symbolism of other
cultures? - ANS-- Lamassu (Assyria)
- hypostyle halls (Egypt)
- Gate of all nations (Babylon)
- Apadana Reliefs
3.1 1) How does religion and belief in the afterlife shape the architecture of Egypt? -
ANS-- incorporating mastabas into pyramids with serdabs and ka statues
- pyramids symbolizing ben ben to honor Ra sun god
- hierarchy of scale of pharoahs
2) What is the relationship between a traditonal mastaba and the Step Pyramid of
Djoser? - ANS-a traditional mastaba has a rectangular shape with a flat top and the
stepped pyramid of Djoser has three mastabas built around eachother creating a stair
step shape
1) Explain the role that geography plays in determining prehistoric building materials
and techniques - ANS-In ancient periods, societies could only build with resources from
local environments/ terrains
EX: megalithic stones in North West Europe vs Mud brick in Egypt and middle East
2) How have the recent excavations at Göbekli Tepe caused us to rethink long accepted
theories about the development of farming, settled village life, religion, and monumental
architecture in the Neolithic Period? - ANS-Theories about the workforce building the
temple needed a reliable source of food might have lead to the transition towards
agriculture and settled villages. However there is no evidence of a settled civilization
around the site which may be because it is a regional gathering site.
3) Using the examples of Jericho and Çatal Hüyük, explain how the architecture and
material remains can tell us about the organization of prehistoric society. - ANS-The two
civilization's use of mudbrick and adobe to create long lasting structures that displayed
cultural values portrays their successfulness and advanced thinking as a prehistoric
society.
4) How would you describe the construction techniques used in the settlement at Çatal
Hüyük? - ANS-Catal Huyuk is a cluster of dwellings built on top of each other with roof
access. The foundation of the settlement is stone, the walls are adobe and sun dried
mud brick.
5) What does the architectural layout tell us about communal versus private space in
this settlement? (Catal Huyuk) - ANS-The roofs acted as public spaces and "streets"
whereas the indoor dwellings were private
6) What role did art (as in "architectural decoration") play in the built environment of
thiscommunity?(Catal Huyuk) - ANS-There as paintings on the walls in the dwellings
that depict murals of bulls, which depicted male fertility, and large women, which depict
female fertility.
7) Describe the technical ability of the people who built Stonehenge. - ANS-There were
no advanced tools, used stones to carve in megalithic stones, dug holes to stabilize
stones
, used post and lintel structuring to stabilize, and used mortise and tenon to stabilize
pieces together
8) What are some of the techniques used to build the stone circle?( Stonehenge) -
ANS-inclined planes and stout ropes
9) Explain some of the current theories about the purpose of Stonehenge and the
evidence to support them. - ANS-Theories
- acting as a calendar in regards to solar solstices
- cremation site due to burial/cremation remains found
- ritual ground for religion
10) Explain how solar alignments (and the corresponding orientation of architectural
elements) would be important for early agricultural communities, using the examples of
Newgrange and Stonehenge. - ANS-Both monuments integrated solar solstices into
design
- for religious/ spiritual significance
- calendars
2.1 How does the design and decoration of architecture in the ancient Near East reflect
power and authority? - ANS-- processional routes
- large magnitude and scale
2.2 How does Persian architecture draw upon the knowledge and symbolism of other
cultures? - ANS-- Lamassu (Assyria)
- hypostyle halls (Egypt)
- Gate of all nations (Babylon)
- Apadana Reliefs
3.1 1) How does religion and belief in the afterlife shape the architecture of Egypt? -
ANS-- incorporating mastabas into pyramids with serdabs and ka statues
- pyramids symbolizing ben ben to honor Ra sun god
- hierarchy of scale of pharoahs
2) What is the relationship between a traditonal mastaba and the Step Pyramid of
Djoser? - ANS-a traditional mastaba has a rectangular shape with a flat top and the
stepped pyramid of Djoser has three mastabas built around eachother creating a stair
step shape
