Welcome to the History of Western Architecture! We’re going to be studying the history of architecture, beginning in ancient Egypt and progressing through Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and even some modern buildings. There will be a lot to watch and do in this class, so be prepared!
Days with an asterisk (*) mean you will have something to print.
Day 1*
1. What is Architecture? Architecture is more than just putting up walls and roofs. It’s the art and science of designing buildings and spaces where people live, work, learn, and play. It combines creativity and practicality to shape the world around us in ways that are both useful and beautiful.
At its core, architecture is about solving problems. Architects ask questions like: How can we make this space comfortable? How will people move through it? How can we make it safe, sustainable, and welcoming? Whether it’s a tiny house or a towering skyscraper, every structure is the result of hundreds of choices about shape, materials, light, air, and movement.
But architecture isn’t just about buildings—it’s about people. It influences how we feel and behave. A bright, open classroom can make learning easier. A peaceful park pavilion can bring communities together. A city full of well-designed spaces can inspire pride and creativity. That’s why architecture matters. It touches every part of our lives, even if we don’t always notice it.
Throughout history, architecture has also been a way for societies to express their culture and values. Think of the Egyptian pyramids, the Roman Colosseum, or the Gothic cathedrals of Europe. These structures tell stories about the people who built them and what they believed was important.
In short, architecture is everywhere. It shapes the places we call home, the spaces we gather in, and the landmarks we admire. It’s both functional and artistic, grounded in the present but always reaching toward the future. By learning about architecture, we learn more about the world, and ourselves.
2. Skim this article on Western Architecture. (Don’t try and read the whole thing unless you want to, but go through and look at all the pictures. Be sure to read their captions so you know what you’re looking at!)
*3. Print and complete the following worksheet. (Here is the answer key for when you are finished.) Be sure to record your score.
Day 2
1. Watch the documentary “How Ancient Architects Designed Their World.”
Day 3*
1. Today we’re going to begin a study of ancient Egyptian architecture. In order to understand their architecture, we need to begin with a basic understanding of ancient Egyptian culture. Watch this Crash Course video about ancient Egypt.
2. Read about ancient Egyptian art.
3. Then read about materials and techniques used in ancient Egyptian art.
4. Print and complete the worksheet “Building with a Purpose.” (Here is an answer key.) Record your score.
Day 4*
1. Watch the video “Who Built the Pyramids?”
2.The earliest pyramids were not the smooth-sided structures we usually imagine. Instead, the first attempt was the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2670 BCE during the Third Dynasty. Designed by the architect Imhotep, it consisted of several mastabas (flat-roofed tombs) stacked on top of one another. This was the first time Egyptians used stone blocks on a large scale, and it marked the beginning of pyramid construction.
As the centuries passed, pyramid design evolved. The Bent Pyramid, built around 2600 BCE under Pharaoh Sneferu, was an early experiment in creating smooth sides. However, because the angle of the slope was too steep, the upper part had to be adjusted, giving it a bent shape. Sneferu also completed the Red Pyramid in 2590. It is considered the first true smooth-sided pyramid and served as a model for future designs.
The most famous pyramids are those at Giza, built during the Fourth Dynasty. These include the Great Pyramid of Khufu (also called Cheops), the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The Great Pyramid, built beginning in 2550 BCE, stood over 480 feet tall and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. These pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs and were part of a larger mortuary complex, which included temples, causeways, and smaller pyramids for queens.
The construction of pyramids required incredible organization and engineering. Workers used limestone and granite, with copper tools to quarry and shape stones. Massive ramps were likely used to move the stones into place. Contrary to popular belief, these workers were not slaves but well-fed laborers who worked in rotating crews.
Over time, pyramid building declined. By the Middle Kingdom, around 2055 BCE, smaller and less elaborate pyramids were built, often using mudbrick instead of stone. By 1539 BCE, pharaohs began to build hidden tombs in the Valley of the Kings to protect them from tomb robbers, and the golden age of pyramid building had ended.
3. Explore with some digital tours.
4. Print and complete the worksheet “History of the Pyramids.” (Here is an answer key.) Record your score.
Day 5
1. Let’s learn more about pyramids! Read “The Great Pyramids of Giza.”
2. Then read the following:
Day 6
1. Watch the documentary “Discover the Secrets of Egypt: Engineering an Empire.”
Day 7
1. Today read about the Temple of Amun-Re and the Hypostyle Hall, Karnak.
2. Watch this video about the Karnak temple complex.
3. Look at the diagram of components in an Egyptian temple.
- Pylon: A massive, sloping gateway at the entrance of a temple, made of two tall towers with a doorway in between. It symbolizes the horizon where the sun rises.
- Processional Way: A wide, straight path leading up to the temple entrance, often lined with statues or sphinxes.
- Courtyard: An open space inside the temple complex, often surrounded by columns.
- Hypostyle Hall: A large hall filled with many columns that supported the roof.
- Sanctuary: The most sacred part of the temple, located at the very back. It usually contained a statue of the god and was accessible only to high priests and the pharaoh.
Day 8
1. Art was an integral part of building in ancient Egypt, particularly in religious or ceremonial buildings. Watch the documentary “The Scribes of Ancient Egypt.”***
Day 9
1. Egyptian Revival is a style of architecture that draws inspiration from the monuments and decorative elements of ancient Egypt. Although the original temples and pyramids were built thousands of years ago, their powerful shapes and symbolic forms have continued to influence architects into modern times.
The first major wave of Egyptian Revival architecture appeared in the early 19th century, especially after Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt (1798–1801). His expedition brought back drawings, artifacts, and a renewed fascination with the mysteries of ancient Egypt. This excitement spread across Europe and America, influencing art, fashion, and of course, architecture.
Buildings designed in the Egyptian Revival style often feature elements like massive pylons, lotus-shaped columns, obelisk-like decorations, and hieroglyph-inspired motifs. These structures were typically used for cemeteries, museums, government buildings, and even prisons, where the association with eternity, mystery, or authority was especially fitting.
One famous example is the Washington Monument, which, though technically an obelisk rather than a complete Egyptian structure, shows how Egyptian design ideas were adapted in monumental public architecture. Another is the Egyptian Building in Richmond, Virginia, a medical school building with clear references to temple design, including columns and carved cornices.
Egyptian Revival made another comeback in the 1920s, during the Art Deco period. After the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the world was swept up in “Tutmania.” Egyptian imagery began to appear in everything from jewelry and movie sets to the façades of theaters and skyscrapers. This time, it blended with sleek lines and geometric patterns of Art Deco, resulting in buildings that felt both modern and ancient.
Though Egyptian Revival is no longer a dominant architectural trend, its legacy lives on. Architecture doesn’t just reflect the time it’s built in, but it is also influenced by the past.
2. Watch the video “Beyond the Pyramids: Tracing the Global Influence of Egyptian Revival.”
Day 10
1. As the power of ancient Egypt began to fade, new civilizations rose across the Mediterranean. Among them, the Greeks would develop an architectural style that, while very different from Egypt’s massive, mysterious stone temples and pyramids, would become equally influential. Like the Egyptians, the Greeks used architecture to express religious devotion and civic pride. But where Egyptian architecture emphasized permanence, monumentality, and inward-focused sacred spaces, Greek architecture introduced new ideals of balance, proportion, openness, and human-centered design. With open-air temples, precise geometry, and iconic columns, Greek architecture laid the foundation for Western architectural principles that are still used today.
2. Read the introduction to Greek architecture.
3. Watch the video “The Classical Orders.”
Day 11
1. Today, watch “How Classical Architecture Began in Ancient Greece.”
Day 12*
1. Read about Greek architectural orders.
2. Print page 1 of the PDF and label the diagrams. Record your score out of 15.
Day 13
1. Read the article “Greek Sanctuaries as Artistic Hubs.”
2. Watch the video “The Parthenon.”
Day 14*
1. Read about ancient Greek temples. (Stop when you get to ‘Priests and Priestesses at Ancient Greek Temples.’)
2. Watch the video about the basics of Greek temple architecture.
3. Print and complete the worksheet about Greek architecture. (Here is the answer key.) Record your score.
