This is just an approximation of the history of architecture in the Western world as architecture is a fluid art. The historic periods do not start and stop at precise points on a calendar Architecture in Prehistoric Times - humans constructed earthen mounds, stone circles, megaliths, and structures - includes monumental structures such as Stonehenge, cliff dwellings in the Americas, and thatch and mud structures. Ancient Egypt 3,050 BC to 900 BC - powerful rulers constructed monumental pyramids, temples, and shrines. - enormous structures such as the Pyramids of Giza were feats of engineering capable of reaching great heights. Classical 850 BC to 476 AD - the rise of ancient Greece until the fall of the Roman empire - great buildings were constructed according to precise rules - The Classical Orders, which defined column styles and entablature designs, continue to influence building design in modern times. Byzantine 527 to 565 AD. - the capital of the Roman empire moved to Byzantium (now called Istanbul) in 330 AD - Roman architecture evolved into a graceful, classically-inspired style - used brick instead of stone, domed roofs, elaborate mosaics, and classical forms - Emperor Justinian (527 AD to 565 AD) led the way. Romanesque 800 to 1200 AD - heavier, stocky Romanesque architecture with rounded arches emerged. - Churches and castles of the early Medieval period were constructed with thick walls and heavy piers. Gothic Architecture 1100 to 1450 AD - Pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, flying buttresses, and other innovations led to taller, more graceful architecture. - Gothic ideas gave rise to magnificent cathedrals like Chartres and Notre Dame. Renaissance Architecture 1400 to 1600 AD - return to classical ideas ushered an "age of awakening" in Italy, France, and England. - Andrea Palladio and other builders looked the classical orders of ancient Greece and Rome. - Long after the Renaissance era ended, architects in the Western world found inspiration in the beautifully proportioned architecture of the period. Baroque Architecture 1600 to 1830 AD - the Baroque style is reflected in opulent and dramatic churches with irregular shapes and extravagant ornamentation. - In France, the highly ornamented Baroque style combines with Classical restraint. - Russian aristocrats were impressed by Versailles in France, and incorporated Baroque ideas in the building of St. Petersburg. - Elements of the elaborate Baroque style are found throughout Europe. Rococo Architecture 1650 to 1790 AD - the last phase of the Baroque period - builders constructed graceful white buildings with sweeping curves. - Rococo buildings are elegantly decorated with scrolls, vines, shell-shapes, and delicate geometric patterns. Neoclassicism in Architecture 1730 to 1925 AD - keen interest in ideas of Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio inspired a return of classical shapes in Europe, Great Britain and the United States. - buildings were proportioned according to the classical orders with details borrowed from ancient Greece and Rome. Art Nouveau Architecture 1890 to 1914 AD - known as the New Style - first expressed in fabrics and graphic design, the style spread to architecture and furniture in the 1890s. - buildings often have asymmetrical shapes, arches and decorative surfaces with curved, plant-like designs. Beaux Arts Architecture 1895 to 1925 AD - also known as Beaux Arts Classicism, Academic Classicism, or Classical Revival, - architecture is characterized by order, symmetry, formal design, grandiosity, and elaborate ornamentation. Neo-Gothic Architecture 1905 to 1930 AD - Gothic ideas were applied to modern buildings - Gargoyles, arched windows, and other medieval details ornamented soaring skyscrapers. Art Deco Architecture 1925 to 1937 AD - Zigzag patterns and vertical lines create dramatic effect on jazz-age - many Art Deco motifs were inspired by the architecture of ancient Egypt. Modernist Styles in Architecture 1900 to Present. - dramatic changes and astonishing diversity. - trends include Art Moderne and the Bauhaus school coined by Walter Gropius, Deconstructivism, Formalism, Modernism, and Structuralism. Postmodernism in Architecture 1972 to Present. - reaction against the Modernist approaches gave rise to new buildings that re-invented historical details and familiar motifs. - ideas that date back to classical and ancient times. SOURCE: http://architecture.about.com/cs/historicperiods/a/timeline.htm Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel. RELATED POSTS