Lectures Flashcards
What are the different uses of ochre?
Used as a coloring substance, ground into a powder mixed with fat or water. Used in death ceremonies, signified rain, fertility, hunting, death. Tied to the color of blood. Represented the sun and energy, power. EARTH BLOOD.
Name two sites that are most significant in the study of first African societies.
Rhino Cave — sacred to the !Kung people
Blombos Cave —insight into food acquisition of ancient people
What are the fundamental elements of the ‘cultural package’ we discussed in class?
Tools, Ochre, Dance, Symbolic (sacred) Landscape, Necklaces, Bands
Name two of the early manifestations of animistic beliefs.
Rituals involving landscape, the emergence of shamans as interpreters of the spirits.
Identify three tipi innovations in comparison to Finnish Lavvu.
- Smoke flaps
- Jacket that holds it together
- Tilt for ventilation
Name three architectural models from the European megalithic tradition.
Cove: 3 standing stones in a U shape Trilithon: π shape upright stones Dolmens: burial tomb with capstone Stone Circles Barrow Tombs
What are the factors that helped the emergence of first urban settlements in Mesopotamia?
Excess of grain—grain farming had been developed over several centuries.
Mines and metal
Hillside cities
What is the natural event that caused the movement of African populations towards Egypt and helped the emergence of the Egyptian civilization?
Global warming developed the Sahara Desert
What are the four central cities in the early Mesopotamian empire?
Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagash
What were the transformations made by the Beaker people at Stonehenge?
Changed the symbolic landscape to correspond to the solar movement instead of the lunar
What are the principal materials used by Egyptians to build their royal projects?
Red granite, white marble, black basalt, and sandstone.
Name two mortuary complexes from the Early Egyptian kingdom.
Mortuary complex of Zoser
Pyramids at Giza: Khafre’s mortuary temple
What function did the ‘Venus’ figurines serve (commonly found by the time of the Gravettian period)?
they’re function isn’t clear, but they were related to ritual and devotional practices that hunters took part in.
In what ways were the tipis used by the Plains Indians innovative?
Used a skin jacket, had no horizontal structural elements, had tilt + flaps for smoke control, could be erected by one person
Describe the hunting techniques of the Gravettians and the Magdalenians.
Used the features of the land to herd them so they could be killed at close range, using spears, stones, and clubs. They also used nets for catching small animals.
What purpose did the sweat lodges serve (based on our knowledge from Native American sweat lodges)?
Important to social identity, they provided a place for a ritual sweating ceremony, to convene with spirit people and ancestors of the clan.
Name the three plants most commonly represented in the forms of Egyptian columns.
Papyrus — open and closed bud
Palm
Lotus
What is a hypostyle hall and what is its significance? Other than as load support, what was the purpose of Egyptian columns?
Hall full of columns —each column told the history, religious practices, achievements of the king
Part of processional religion
Who do the statues carved into the façade of the temple at Abu Simbel represent?
Ramesses
How did the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut relate to the landscape?
It was located in a sacred area dedicated to the mother goddess, under a big cliff. Aligned with the temple at Karnak, and with Hatshepsut’s tomb.
Which foods became staples in Southeast Asia, South Africa, the Americas, and the South Pacific as a result of the agricultural diffusions of 500 BC – 1000 CE?
SE Asia: Rice
S. Africa: Millet and Sorghum
Americas: potatoes and corn
S. Pacific: Taro and breadfruit
What is the difference between a village and a city?
A city requires bureaucracy to deal with trade, tax and enforcement, defense. Villages are like a cohesive machine, more personal, people know each other, there is a symbolic system reproduced from generation to generation.
What is the function of the chief in chiefdoms?
The chief is the link between the villagers and their ancestors. He is the ceremonial, the embodiment of virtues.
What are the similarities between Wangcheng’s ideal city and Chengzhou?
800 BCE
same 3x3 grid layout, palace in the center, intended to be a royal residence
Draw and label a diagram of cardo and decumanus, and explain how it was used both by Etruscans and the Romans.
Cardo – N/S
Decumanus – E/W
Of what kind of material was the Temple of Solomon built, and what was kept inside?
It was built of cedars from lebanon and housed the ark (gold-plated chest that held the stone tablets with the 10 commandments)
The Summer Palace in Babylon:
Was similar to Assyrian tradition because the palace was built at the perimeter of the city.
5 courtyards by the throne room, not symmetrical
Identify three of the following terms: echinus, frieze, metope, guttae, capital entablature, pediment.
echinus—circular molding
frieze—the horizontal part of the entablature
metope—any of the panels between triglyph in the entablature
capital entablature-horizontal level between columnades
pediment– low-pitched gable
What is the difference between Greek and Egyptian stone preparation, and how did this impact architectural design?
Egyptian columns were finished on site, where Greek columns were brought to the site mostly complete. Allowed for more detail in architecture
Name three structures on the Acropolis at Athens ca. 400 BCE.
The parthenon, the statue of athena, the erechtheum
Name an example of a basilica, make a sketch of the plan, and explain for what the basilica was used.
Court of law, Aemilia and Iulia
Domitian’s palace consisted of:
Aula Regia, Lararium, Triclinium, Peristyle
What was the significance of Augustus’ rule for Rome, as a city and architecturally? Name three examples of building projects he undertook.
Forum of Caesar, Basilica Julia, Forum of Augustus
He wanted to make the city more orderly, safer. Restoration, establishment of the fire brigade and police force.
What kind of leaf is depicted on a Corinthian capital?
acanthus leaves
