Byzantine Review:

Rachael: She did a great job explaining the Byzantine period.  I also thought her videos were very interesting to watch. 

Holli: I loved reading her blog it had great information in it and went into great detail. I also liked the pictures that she chose to put in her blog. 

Early Christianity Review:

Savannah: She did a really good job at explaining her topic and I also liked her extra credit video.

Krista: She did a good job at explaining the two different types of tombs. I also thought her pictures were very interesting.

Byzantine 330-1453 C.E.

The Byzantine Empire was the longest political entity in European history. Its primary distinction from immediate predecessor, the Roman Empire, is that it was Christian. Byzantine was the name used by Greeks and Romans; Byzantines themselves referred to their state as the Roman Empire, as it was, effectively, a communication of the Roman Empire. The word Byzantine itself, in modern parlance, is sometimes used to connote confusion, difficulty in understanding, remoteness and mystery. The Byzantine Empire was the model for many European medieval states, with it’s balancing of the roles of secular political leadership with religion.

Byzantine art is rich and reminiscent. It is Christian and humanist, and continues to speak to the present day. Highlights of Byzantine are mosaics, ivories, illuminated manuscripts, and domed churches. Most liturgical manuscripts belonged to churches belonged to churches and monasteries, and were not in private hands. Many of them look back to classical portraits but also provide important information about Byzantine furniture and the equipping of interiors. They created a more centralized plan by combining the past layouts. It was the combination of a dome from the east and the square base of the classical temple of the west; which introduced a new architectural type known as the Domed Basilica. This began the creation of pendentives, which we see in the Hagia Sophia structure.

Hagia Sophia is the supreme architectural monument of the Byzantine Empire. It is a combination of a congregational basilica and a multi-domed and vaulted superstructure. Although there was a sanctuary located in the apse, a nave, and side aisle, this is not immediately apparent because of the overwhelming existence of the giant dome. Forty rounded windows invigorate the base of the dome and constitute a new type of clerestory. The central dome of Hagia Sophia rises to a height of 55 feet above the floor, the largest vault space of the ancient and medieval world. Many churches built after it used it as a model.

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Early Christianity 330-800 C.E.

Early Christianity is a term that designates the art and architecture of the first Christian communities. It began with the death of Christ in ancient Judea, and eastern outpost of the Roman Empire.  Rome tolerated most religions, but Christianity posed a threat to the emperor in that Christians could not declare the divinity of the Emperor. This refusal resulted in the persecution of early Christians in Rome. Christianity prospered under the persecution and was basically and underground religion. Many of the believers to the Christian faith were of the lower class. Christianity promoted access to God through the death and atonement of Jesus Christ, which provided great hope especially those in the lower classes. 

During this time unlike the Greece and Rome the works were easily grasped, because they lacked the stylistic cohesiveness of the proceeding periods. Christianity inherited the two most important  architectural forms from the Romans: the straightforward basilica and the luxuriant centrally planned domed spaces. The earliest examples of architecture related to Christianity were not designed to house Christian services but were designated for that purpose. The fourth and fifth centuries saw Early Christian churches built in various parts of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

One of the many churches was the Sant’ Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna, 535-538 C.E., shows how Christian architects started with the basilica form and refined it to respond to the specifics of a Christian service. It is an elongated rectangle, entered at one end, with an apse at the other end. The apse creates a focal point, the perfect spot for alter or speaker, and eventually an image or sculpture of Christ.  Influenced by the model of Old Saint Peter’s, side aisles line the central nave and allow visitors to precede into the church without interrupting the service. The additional side aisles render the building grander, and a row of columns separates it from the nave. The side aisles have their own roof, which allows for a row of windows; this creatively allows outside light to center directly into the nave, and further emphasizing the vertical structure and consideration of light is a heavenly material. The straightforward timber roof echoed the pitch of classical temples. Also, in many of the Early Christian churches, as in Sant’ Apollinare, a mosaic or fresco in the apse features a prominent story of the life of Christ. The apse provides a backdrop for the alter, the holiest part of the structure, and the point from which the priest addresses the congregation.


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Prehistoric Rome

Erin-I thought she did a good job at explaining the colosseum and the columns. I didn't know that they designed it so that the columns could be removed and replaced.

Becca- She did a good job at explaining the arches and the Pantheon. Her videos were also very interesting to watch.

Greek Civilization

Savannah-I like that she told us the meaning behind the design of the columns. And she did a good job at explaining some of the furniture.

Alex- I like that she had actual pictures it made it more interesting; she also did good at explaining the pictures.

Prehistoric Rome

Rome was the greatest power west of China. Their art and design was inspired by Greece. They served as a catalyst in spreading art and civilization, also controlled commerce in the western Mediterranean Sea. In the Roman culture structures and social values played a big role. Entertainment such as sporting events, circus, concerts and plays were evolving at this time. Religious figurers where worshiped with tombs and temples

The invention of Roman design is that it brilliantly operated within the stylistic parameter initially set by Greece, yet took it in new directions. They mastered road building, which led to more new inventions. Where Greek was influenced there was and architecture of column and post and lintel construction in their building designs. The columns were more decorative and structural than the past columns. They added extravagant decoration in their furniture pieces. They had a new material to accompany their explorations of form: concrete. Although the buildings often look as though they are built from stone, they were largely architecture of brick and concrete, faced with stone. Roman architectures saw the major possibilities of arch and concrete, vaulting, dome and use of the arch development.

Roman furniture inherited Greek forms and the general inventory is the same: tables, beds, chairs, and stools. But as a general rule, Roman furniture had to be more elaborate than the Greek furniture.  The piece of furniture that is most associated with Rome is the couch. During this time a couch was used as a bed and settee or couch, it is a horizontal surface for sitting or reclining, with arms at one or both ends. It was used at night for sleeping. A variety of small tables served those who were on the reclining couches. These include small metal tripod table, similar to Greek tables. Some tripods were folding that when opened supported a top, of wood or marble, that was used for food or drinks.

One of the major inventions in Rome was the coliseum; which held gladiator fights and other cultural events. It sat at least 50,000 people, made of concrete, stone and the use of arch and barrel vault. Each level has a podium, column and an entablature. We still use the coliseum concept today and they still hold the same entertainment events.  

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