Lectures

Question 1

What are the different uses of ochre?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Name two sites that are most significant in the study of first African societies.

Answer 2

Rhino Cave — sacred to the !Kung people

Blombos Cave —insight into food acquisition of ancient people

Question 3

What are the fundamental elements of the ‘cultural package’ we discussed in class?

Answer 3

Tools, Ochre, Dance, Symbolic (sacred) Landscape, Necklaces, Bands

Question 4

Name two of the early manifestations of animistic beliefs.

Answer 4

Rituals involving landscape, the emergence of shamans as interpreters of the spirits.

Question 5

Identify three tipi innovations in comparison to Finnish Lavvu.

Answer 5

• Smoke flaps
• Jacket that holds it together
• Tilt for ventilation

Question 6

Name three architectural models from the European megalithic tradition.

Answer 6

Cove: 3 standing stones in a U shape
Trilithon: π shape upright stones
Dolmens: burial tomb with capstone
Stone Circles
Barrow Tombs

Question 7

What are the factors that helped the emergence of first urban settlements in Mesopotamia?

Answer 7

Excess of grain—grain farming had been developed over several centuries.
Mines and metal
Hillside cities

Question 8

What is the natural event that caused the movement of African populations towards Egypt and helped the emergence of the Egyptian civilization?

Answer 8

Global warming developed the Sahara Desert

Question 9

What are the four central cities in the early Mesopotamian empire?

Answer 9

Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Lagash

Question 10

What were the transformations made by the Beaker people at Stonehenge?

Answer 10

Changed the symbolic landscape to correspond to the solar movement instead of the lunar

Question 11

What are the principal materials used by Egyptians to build their royal projects?

Answer 11

Red granite, white marble, black basalt, and sandstone.

Question 12

Name two mortuary complexes from the Early Egyptian kingdom.

Answer 12

Mortuary complex of Zoser

Pyramids at Giza: Khafre’s mortuary temple

Question 13

What function did the ‘Venus’ figurines serve (commonly found by the time of the Gravettian period)?

Answer 13

they’re function isn’t clear, but they were related to ritual and devotional practices that hunters took part in.

Question 14

In what ways were the tipis used by the Plains Indians innovative?

Answer 14

Used a skin jacket, had no horizontal structural elements, had tilt + flaps for smoke control, could be erected by one person

Question 15

Describe the hunting techniques of the Gravettians and the Magdalenians.

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

What purpose did the sweat lodges serve (based on our knowledge from Native American sweat lodges)?

Answer 16

Important to social identity, they provided a place for a ritual sweating ceremony, to convene with spirit people and ancestors of the clan.

Question 17

Name the three plants most commonly represented in the forms of Egyptian columns.

Answer 17

Papyrus — open and closed bud
Palm
Lotus

Question 18

What is a hypostyle hall and what is its significance? Other than as load support, what was the purpose of Egyptian columns?

Answer 18

Hall full of columns —each column told the history, religious practices, achievements of the king
Part of processional religion

Question 19

Who do the statues carved into the façade of the temple at Abu Simbel represent?

Answer 19

Ramesses

Question 20

How did the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut relate to the landscape?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

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?

Answer 21

SE Asia: Rice
S. Africa: Millet and Sorghum
Americas: potatoes and corn
S. Pacific: Taro and breadfruit

Question 22

What is the difference between a village and a city?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

What is the function of the chief in chiefdoms?

Answer 23

The chief is the link between the villagers and their ancestors. He is the ceremonial, the embodiment of virtues.

Question 24

What are the similarities between Wangcheng’s ideal city and Chengzhou?

Answer 24

800 BCE

same 3x3 grid layout, palace in the center, intended to be a royal residence

Question 25

Draw and label a diagram of cardo and decumanus, and explain how it was used both by Etruscans and the Romans.

Answer 25

Cardo – N/S

Decumanus – E/W

Question 26

Of what kind of material was the Temple of Solomon built, and what was kept inside?

Answer 26

It was built of cedars from lebanon and housed the ark (gold-plated chest that held the stone tablets with the 10 commandments)

Question 27

The Summer Palace in Babylon:

Answer 27

Was similar to Assyrian tradition because the palace was built at the perimeter of the city.
5 courtyards by the throne room, not symmetrical

Question 28

Identify three of the following terms: echinus, frieze, metope, guttae, capital entablature, pediment.

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What is the difference between Greek and Egyptian stone preparation, and how did this impact architectural design?

Answer 29

Egyptian columns were finished on site, where Greek columns were brought to the site mostly complete. Allowed for more detail in architecture

Question 30

Name three structures on the Acropolis at Athens ca. 400 BCE.

Answer 30

The parthenon, the statue of athena, the erechtheum

Question 31

Name an example of a basilica, make a sketch of the plan, and explain for what the basilica was used.

Answer 31

Court of law, Aemilia and Iulia

Question 32

Domitian’s palace consisted of:

Answer 32

Aula Regia, Lararium, Triclinium, Peristyle

Question 33

What was the significance of Augustus’ rule for Rome, as a city and architecturally? Name three examples of building projects he undertook.

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

What kind of leaf is depicted on a Corinthian capital?

Answer 34

acanthus leaves