1. History of Architecture - I
Kurdistan Region-Iraq
Tishk International University
Faculty of Engineering
Architecture Engineering Department
History of Architecture - I 7
Roman Architecture
(300 B.C. – 365 A.C.)
By:
Nizar Najim
Assistant Lecturer

2. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.1. Influences:
Geographical:
Established in the Italian Peninsula located on the Mediterranean Sea
Coasts and Mountains
Geological:
Availability of Minerals: Iron, Tin, Copper.
Existence of Stone: Volcanic, Marble, Clay, Timber.
Different types of Sand and Gravel.
Existence of Pozzolana (Natural Cement) mixed with lime & water as a strong mortar.
Climate:
Different climate between central Europe and the Mediterranean sea (Moderate: Sunny-Rainy)
Religion:
Polytheism
Weak effect of religion have caused the appearance of many public buildings
Social & Political:
National games, and religious festivals.

3. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.1. Influences:
Social, Historical & Political:
Before the Roman Civilization, the Etruscan Civilization existed B.C.
Rome was ruled by governments headed by a king and consultant societies B.C.
Rome became a Republic on 500 B.C. .
Julius Caesar assassinated on 44 B.C. .
The time of Augustine was the greatest periods in Rome history (Ruled on 44 B.C.)
Augustine died on 14 A.C.
The influence of Rome spread outside Italy reaching North Africa, Greece, Spain, Syria, Egypt, and Britain on 43 A.C.
After this period, the Rome Empire became weak.
Constantine moved the capital to Byzantium.
The Empire divided into two parts; Eastern, its capital is Constantinople and western, its capital is Rome, ended on 476 A.C.

4. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.2. Etruscan Architecture B.C.:
Architectural Characters and Features:
From the central west of Italy
Constructed huge structures such as; city fences, sewerage, Marsh discharge, River control.
The first to use the semicircular arches in the whole Europe.
Their cities are fortified with stone fences
Did not use mortar, mostly.
Tombs exist in their architecture
Remains of stone arches have survived to reach us.
It is believed that Roman atrium houses go back to the Etruscans (built with sundried brick, covered with timber roofs.
Temples were lifted over Podiums.
Attention paid to the frontal elevation.

5. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.3. Roman Architecture 300 B.C A.C.:
Architectural Characters and Features:
Influenced by Greek architecture in 300B.C. after keeping Etruscan characters for a while.
Adapted the Greek beams and columns style, and developed Etruscan arches and vaults.
Used Greek orders in their temples for both decorative and structural purposes.
Added two extra orders; the Tuscan and the Composite orders.
In addition to temples, other functional and multi-story buildings emerged.
Continued using stone units without mortar.
Invented the Concrete (Strong composition consists of small stones, such as Tufa or Travertine with crushed brick and mortar of limestone and (Pozzolana) sand that exist in volcanic areas.
Characterized with the ability to cover wide spaces, by developing the Greek beam and column system and the Etruscan stone arches, in addition to their unique concrete vaults

6. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.3. Roman Architecture 300 B.C A.C.:
Planning of Roman City:
Based on geometrical shape of streets, one main street from north to south, another from east to west, and the Forum located at the intersection of those two roads, were the market and public buildings located.
Surrounded with a fence, entrances are rich with columns and arches. The emergence of (Triumphal Arch)
Buildings such as; Basilica, Baths, Stadiums, Tombs, Palaces, Houses, Aqueducts, Bridges, …etc.

7. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.3. Roman Architecture 300 B.C A.C.:
Vaults and Domes:
Semicircular or Wagon-Headed vaults or Barrel vaults.
Cross Vaults (Groin Vault).
Cupolas or Hemispherical Domes
Invented a perfect system to support the heavy vaults and domes called Buttresses in different shapes, visible or invisible
The strong effect of concrete have been reduced by making recesses in the walls.
Walls and vaults decorated with sand or lime plaster

8. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.3. Roman Architecture 300 B.C A.C.:
Used different types of walls:
Opus Quadratum
Opus Incertum
Opus Mixtum
Opus Testaceum
Glass mosaic utilized for decorating vaults, pavilions, fountains, etc.
Golding used in wooden ornament and roofs
Abundance of sculptures and monuments put in wall wholes with different shapes

9. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.4. Roman Building Types:
Temples: having 2 types
Rectangular Temples: a mix of Greek and Etruscan architecture
Circular Temples: found in the Aegean and Greek architecture
The Forum: a wide square in the downtown meets the Agura in Greek architecture
Basilicas: Special character of Roman architecture Used for trading, justice, and courts
The Colosseum: Elliptical in plan derived from Greek architecture
Thermae: used as baths, meeting, management, entertainment, sports, trading (Cultural and social Club)
Theatres: taken from the Greece for drama purposes
Semicircular Stage
Built on flat (leveled) land
Audience seats are stepped.

10. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.3. Roman Architecture 300 B.C A.C.:

11. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.4. Roman Building Types:

12. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.4. Roman Building Types:

13. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.4. Roman Building Types:
Tombs: in different types
Tombs: Underground rooms with domes
Memorial Tombs: Dedicated for Major state officials
Tombs similar to the Pyramids
Tombs similar to temples
Triumphal Arches:
Huge structure of stone decorated with historical ornament provided with columns support on podiums.

14. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
Symmetry
Proportion
Unity
Contrast

15. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.5. Roman Orders:
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian
Tuscan
Composite

16. History of Architecture - I 7. Roman Architecture
7.5. Roman Orders:
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian
Tuscan
Composite

17. History of Architecture - I : 7.6. References:
1. Ching, Francis D.K., “A Global History of Architectural”, Second Edition, John Wiley& Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2011
2. Fletcher, Banister, “A History of Architectural on the Comparative Method”, Fifth Edition, Pradbury, Agnew & Co. Limited Printers, London, 2011
3. KOSTOF SPIRO, “A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals”, Oxford University Press, USA, 1995
4. Mansbridge, John, “Graphic History of Architecture”,
Hennessey & Ingalls, 1999