History of architecture

**Early Architectural History**:
– Paleolithic era marked by the construction of shelters by humans and ancestors.
– Nest-building behavior observed in great apes like chimpanzees and orangutans.
– Nest-building potentially crucial for human evolution of creativity and construction skills.
– Development of home bases around 2 million years ago influencing shelter construction.
– Earliest confirmed structures found in France at Terra Amata site around 400,000 years ago.
– Neolithic period (10,000-2000 BC) saw major architectural advances due to plant and animal domestication.
– Neolithic settlements like Göbekli Tepe, Jericho, and Çatalhöyük emerged during this period.

**Ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian Architecture**:
– Mesopotamian architecture well-documented with prominent structures like ziggurats in cities such as Babylon and Nineveh.
– Egyptian architecture characterized by grandeur, precision, hieroglyphs, and intricate carvings.
– Temples like Karnak and Luxor showcasing advanced architectural techniques.
– Mesopotamia known for mud-brick buildings and ziggurats elevating temples to command positions.
– Ancient Egyptians built monumental structures like pyramids and temples influenced by beliefs in the afterlife.

**Greek and Roman Architectural Influence**:
– Greek architecture focused on symmetry, proportion, and harmony with iconic structures like the Parthenon.
– Roman architecture adopted and expanded upon Greek principles, known for engineering feats like aqueducts.
– Influence of Greek and Roman architecture can be seen in modern buildings.
– Greek temples adorned with sculptures and intricate decorations influencing later styles.
– Roman architecture spread throughout the empire, combining local traditions with Roman styles.

**Pre-Columbian and Mesoamerican Architecture**:
– Complex societies in North, Central, and South America over 3,000 years ago.
– Mayan, Aztec, and Inca architecture showcased advanced engineering and design.
– Mesoamerican architecture incorporating intricate carvings and sculptures in sites like Teotihuacan and Tikal.
– Inca architecture using topography and land materials in designs with examples like Machu Picchu and Sacsayhuamán.
– Mayan, Aztec, and Inca structures often aligned with astronomical features.

**South Asian Architectural Evolution**:
– South Asian architecture evolving from ancient Indian styles to Islamic influences.
– Unique architectural forms emerging in different regions of South Asia over time.
– Buddhist architecture featuring structures like stupas symbolizing infinite space.
– Hindu architecture evolving from rock-cut cave shrines to monumental temples with regional adaptations.
– Maru Gurjara architecture characterized by sharply carved statues and spirelets in Hindu and Jain places of worship.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_architecture