Architecture of the Ancient World

The people of the ancient world were far more advanced than most students realize. Virtually every ancient civilization made contributions and advancements that are still used in some form today. Architecture is one area in which the ancients excelled; the Egyptians created perfect pyramids, the Greeks designed temples using the Golden Ratio and the Romans created the ever-efficient and strong arch. Students find it hard to believe that ancient people created what they did without the materials, machinery and technology available to us today.

To introduce students to the idea of ancient architecture, print out images of a variety of ancient structures, including the Great Pyramid, the Colisseum, the Parthenon, and the Great Wall of China. Have students work either individually or in small groups to hypothesize how long it took to build these structures, what kind of materials were used, how many people were needed to construct it, and what kinds of tools were used to make it. Once students complete this exercise, share with students how each structure was built.

Once students are familiar with a variety of architectural styles, you can have them randomly select a style, a type of building, and a purpose out of a hat (for example, an Egyptian government building or a Chinese temple). Have students design the building, list the materials and tools needed, and the number of workers required to build it.

Google Earth is a tremendous resource for educators. One recent addition to the program is the Ancient Rome 3-D overlay which allows you to see where every building was located and what it looked like thanks to Computer Assisted Design (CAD). There are many similar overlays that are equally interesting to students and teachers alike. You can have students explore the architectural ruins of an area, as well as what remains, and create a walking tour of a specific area or a guided tour of a town, city or region. Another exciting feature is the ability to record narration about a certain place. Students will certainly find navigating Google Earth to be of high interest, and teachers can easily meet their educational goals through such a lesson.  Below are some wonderful lesson plans regarding the architecture of the ancient world.

Architecture of the Ancient World Lesson Plans:

Architecture of Ancient China

In this lesson, students focus on the Great Wall of China. By creating their own Great Wall in the classroom, students gain content mastery of Chinese history, and create a replica of one of mankind’s greatest architectural triumphs. This lesson can be modified by challenging small groups to create a virtual Great Wall out of different materials to determine which material is strongest, most cost-effective or most aesthetically pleasing. This is a great opportunity to collaborate with math and science teachers on a “Rebuilding the Great Wall of China” project or activity.

Mathematics of Ornaments and Architecture

This lesson about African architecture incorporates a great deal of math in addition to African culture and heritage. Students explore a variety of different African styles and designs including tessellations, mandalas, and circular and knot designs. Students have the opportunity to create their own designs in the style of ancient African work. Students study the materials used in African structures, such as mud brick.

Your State’s Architectural Scrapbook

Once students have learned about the different architectural styles of the ancient world and beyond, this project provides an excellent opportunity to help students recognize styles in their own communities. Many town, city and state buildings are built in the Neo-Classical style, which is easily identifiable. Students enjoy photographing local buildings and structures built in architectural styles with which they are familiar. Students then assemble their images and write brief summaries of each building and its style.