History of Architecture: From the Neolithic to Ancient Egypt

Jericho, Palestine

9000 BCE

An early settlement in modern-day Palestine, it is known for circular structures with conical roofs, a defensive wall along the perimeter, and tall watchtowers.

Çatalhöyük, Turkey

7100 BCE

Another early settlement, this one was known for densely packed dwellings, and having most of its activity on the roofs of said dwellings.

Mudbrick

7000 BCE

An essential material for construction, people started drying out mud to create bricks with which to build their structures, rather than using whatever they found.

Mortar

6500 BCE

After the brick, came the mortar: the material necessary to stick these pieces together.

Choirokoytia, Cyprus

6000 BCE

Another early settlement in modern Cyprus, this one known for its circular structures, each with a specific function.

Irrigation Systems

6000 BCE

The Sumerians were the first ones to develop irrigation systems that allowed them to better exploit their rivers and bodies of water to maximize agricultural production.

Mastabas

5000 BCE

These structures were a step up from ancient burial sites. Here, the body would be enclosed, away from the elements, and accompanied by several decorative elements, such as statues of the deceased. They were normally huddled in groups, creating what are known as a Necropolis, or city of the dead.

Carnac Stones

4500 BCE

A mysterious arrangement of stones in modern day France, in the northern region of Bretagne. No one really know why they are there, or how they were hauled there.

Paved Roads

4000 BCE

A major development, these allowed for a better and easier access to cities, thus developing trade routes that strenghthened the economy.

Ur

3800 BCE

One of the most important city-states of the Sumerians, it is here that we can find the Ziggurat of Ur, with the shrine dedicated to Nanna

Cities

3800 BCE

After developing agriculture, life expectancy grew. People didn´t have to go out and hunt every day, they know knew that they could have what they needed in their one homes. This also lead to a demographic boom, which meant the small settlements began growing and growing, and becoming more organized and hierarchical, thus creating the first cities in the world.

Wheels

3500 BCE

A major breakthrough in history, the invention of the wheel by the Sumerians allowed the development of many newer technologies.

Newgrange Tomb

3200 BCE

A structure in Newgrange, Ireland, it was used as a tomb, covered by the soil of the location. The most interesting aspect, however, is a ray of light that is visible coming in during the winter solstice, and that was engineered to enter exactly that way.

Skara Brae

3180 BCE

A Neolithic settlement found in modern Scotland, one of its key features is how it is actually an underground array of tunnels and chambers that interconnect, lined with slabs of stone and organized around a hearth.

Narmer/Menes begins his reign

3150 BCE

End of Narmer/Menes's reign

3100 BCE

Stonehenge

3000 BCE

One of the most known Neolithic megaliths, this massive structure is mysterious in many ways, from its purpose to how the people who erected it were able to do so without modern tools and machinery. It is also a great early example of post and lentil structure.

Sailboats

3000 BCE

Mesopotamians used these new mediums of transportation to cross vast distances of water in the search for new and better land and trade routes.

Uruk

2900 BCE

One of the most densely populated cities of the Sumerians, it played a key role in the urbanization of Sumer.

Eridu

2900 BCE

One of the trinity of important Sumerian cities, Eridu was once considered the oldest city of the region.

Nineveh

2900 BCE

The capital of the Assyrian Empire, it was once the fifth biggest city in the world.

Djoser's Funerary Complex

2650 BCE

The earliest recorder pyramid, it is not the same kind of pyramid as the sleek, smooth ones found in places as Giza. This was the early blueprint of what would come later, a stepped pyramid housing the body of pharaoh Djoser.

Snefferu begins his reign

2648 BCE

Huni's Pyramid

2603 BCE

Snefferu´s first experiment in the search for the ideal pyramid, it eventually collapsed. It had 3 stages: two of them stepped, and the last one that tried to be smooth.

Snefferu's Bent Pyramid

2602 BCE

This structure had begun construction before the collapse of Huni's Pyramid. When word of the collapse reached this construction, it was decided to change the angle of the pyramid from 54 to 43 degrees. This gave way to the bent look of this pyramid.

Snefferu's Red Pyramid

2601 BCE

Finally, after trial and error, Imhotep managed to create the smooth, sleek pyramid we now so strongly relate with Egypt for pharaoh Snefferu.

Death of Imhotep

2600 BCE

Snefferu ends his reign

2600 BCE

Writing (first coherent texts)

2600 BCE

The Sumerians developed the cuneiform writing, finally bringing us out of prehistory unto history, allowing us to have a better idea of their lives through written records.

Sargon the First of Akkad begins his reign

2340 BCE

End of Sargon the First's reign

2284 BCE

Ziggurat of Ur

2100 BCE

A massive structure that combined administrative and religious functions, this is one of the most well known of these types of Mesopotamian buildings. It is known that every major city had one.

Chariots

2000 BCE

A massive game-changer in transportation and combat strategy, chariots were made possible thanks to the invention of the wheel, and they were critical in the development of many battles.

Babylon

1894 BCE

The biblical city, it was known for its Great Ziggurat and its hanging gardens, of which nothing has yet been found.

Hammurabi begins his reign

1792 BCE

End of Hammurabi's reign

1750 BCE

Dur-Sharrukin (Khorsabad)

706 BCE

An Assyrian city that was planned out with orthogonal geometry, being the precursor of the now well-known grid system.

Nebuchadnezzar the Second begins his reign

620 BCE

Ishtar Gate

575 BCE

An amazing show of power by Nabuchadnezzar, this structure welcomed visitors to the rebuilt city of Babylon. One of its most striking features is the blue of its stones, and the representations of lions, dragons, and aurochs, each representing a different babylonian deity.

End of Nebuchadnezzar the Second's reign

562 BCE

Persepolis

515 BCE

The heart of the Persian Empire, this city was built to impress and highlight the might of the emperor and his reign. Tribute nations would send their delegates here to present their taxes and tributes, and they would be met with an astounding architectural masterpiece.