Overview
Architecture 300: History of Ideas in Architecture II examines the principles and ideas that shaped civilization and architecture from the end of the Middle Ages to the early Modern era (circa 1400–1800). Across Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas, architecture was used to promote and sustain states that were structured along hereditary class lines. Throughout this course, students will chart the rise and fall of this idea, the creation of the modern economic state, and its colonial expansion.
By studying the course commentary, textbooks, scholarly articles, and visual and primary sources, students will learn about this long and eventful period of the history of architecture as well as and how it is studied by scholars. Students will complete a series of exercises and assignments while working through the six Study Guide units that will assist in honing the skills necessary for the research project.
Outline
Using A Global History of Architecture as a primary reference, the course is organized around a series of themed units designed to develop visual literacy in the history and principles of architecture. The units and the referenced ancillary sources should, however, be studied in the sequence that follows:
- Unit 1: Introduction to Class-structured Architecture: Beijing and China, 1400–1750
- Unit 2: Architectural Imagery for a Class-structured State in Japan, 1500–1750
- Unit 3: Architectural Imagery for a Class-structured Imperial Vision in Russia, 1450–1750 CE
- Unit 4: Building for Divine Kingship in the West and Beyond, 1400–1750 CE
- Unit 5: New Architecture and a New Society in the West: Historicism in the Service of the Capitalist Enterprise, 1400–1800
- Unit 6: Architecture of Persuasion: Western Capitalism and Colonial Legacies in India and the Americas, 1600–1800
Learning outcomes
By analyzing visual evidence and the accompanying literature, with specific reference to a series of monuments as case studies, students will discern
- essential details: nomenclature, locations, builders, significant dates, and chronologies.
- visual evidence: original as-built, change over time, and current state.
- reasons for original construction: the beliefs, values, and intentions that motivated the builders, and how those are revealed in as-built plans, form, or decorative details.
- manner of use: the rituals, activities, and events the buildings were intended to accommodate.
- method of construction: the contribution of evolving technologies, types of building materials, and how geography, environment, and climate influenced their form and function.
- geopolitical, chronological, or ideological contexts for these structures and how they are the same as or different from other buildings that responded to similar stimuli in different times or places.
Evaluation
To receive credit for ARCH 300, you must complete all assignments and achieve a course composite grade of at least 67 percent.
The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Course Work Journal | 5% |
| Assignment 2: Research Plan and Preliminary Bibliography | 10% |
| Assignment 3: Review of a Scholarly Source | 20% |
| Assignment 4: Short Essay and Sketch | 15% |
| Assignment 5: Long Research Essay | 30% |
| Assignment 6: Final Course Work Journal | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Ching, F. D. K., Jarzombek, M. M., & Prakash, V. (2017). A global history of architecture (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Kruft, H.-W. (1994). A history of architectural theory from Vitruvius to the present. Princeton Architectural Press.