214A final vocab list

kaa’ba

stone building at the center of Islam’s most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. They had to face the Kaaba as part of their prayer. It predates Islam, the time that Muhamad had his visions.

Haram

consecrated space in mosques, where rituals and prayers take place

Friday mosque

main mosque in city, communal prayer space (on friday afternoons)

Qibla

wall in mosque that faces Mecca

Mihrab

niche in wall of mosque, indicating direction of mecca, where Muslims face when praying

Minbar

pulpit in form of staircase, where prayer leaders stands when delivering seron after Friday prayer

• made of elaborate carved wood or stone

Minaret

tall tower attached or adjacent to mosque w balcony, used to call Muslims for praying

horseshoe arch

type of arch where circular curve is continued below horizontal line of its diameter → opening at bottom of arch is narrower than arch’s full span

charbagh

a garden

• main building in center of quadrilateral garden, divided by walkways or flowing water

candi

a stone or brick structure of single celled shrine w portico, entrance and stairs, topped w pyramidal roof and located within a Pura

• modeled after E Javanese temples and function as a shrine to a certain deity

architectural elements:

• garba girah, free standing on landscape, hindu or buddhist, square and staggered space → perfect double symmetry, square on square → limited entrance emphasis

world of desires, world of forms, world of formlessness

3 layers of mandala → movement form practicality to meditative

1. kamadatu → bottom, world of desires

2. rudaphatu → middle, world of forms, showcased birth of buddha

3. arupadhatu → top, world of formlessness, stories of monk who wanders and search for wisdom

khmer

Cambodia (802-1450 CE)

• brought Hinduism and Buddhism together

Hariharalaya (802CE)

• capital of khmer kingdom

inventions

• roads → helped move ppl from forest to paddies

• temples dedicated to vishnu and shiva

rice paddies

flooded field of arable land, used to grow semi aquatic crop (rice and taro)

baray

sea of indra and canal buildings

• raised water revisors

• hydro engineering system

• irrigated fields in dry season

Charlemange

King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor

• instigated cultural revival (Carolingian renaissance)

The Carolingian Renaissance

renewed interest in Latin and Greco-Roman art and architecture styles

• enormous education reforms

  • increased number of scriptoria, classical texts standardized and copied

monasteries

enclosed remote community of monks led by an abbot (head of monastery)

• shunned worldly goods to live simple life of prayer and devotion

“ora et labora” → pray and work

• monks would pray, copy manuscripts, and work

• supported by local landlords

St. Benedict

set standards for monasteries and practices for Christian monks

medieval universities

collection individuals banded together

• places of higher learning that preserved and transmitted knowledge

  • students would copy manuscripts

  • curriculum: theology, law, and medicine

• laid foundation for modern education

Romanesque

Architectural style of medieval EU, predominant in 11th and 12 century

characteristics

• relies on walls/sections of walls (piers) to bear load of structure instead of using arches, columns, vaults,

  • thick massive walls, round arches, sturdy pillars, barrel vaults, large towers, decorative arcading

• focus on decorative interior, plain exterior

pilgrimage church

church along a pilgrimage route

• pilgrimage routes → important feature of public devotion, route for atonement

architectural style

• radiating chapels

• ambulatory

• apse

• choir

• transept

• crossing

• nave aisles

• porch

relic

potent objects that provide a closer relationship to the holy

buttresses

stone, exterior support

• project from face of wall → strengthen and resist side thrust created by load on arch or roof

• sometimes decorative

flying buttresses

masonry structure, inclined bar carried on half arch that extends from upper part of wall to pier

• increased supporting power of buttress → creation of high ceiling churches

tympanum

located above church portals

• decorated w intricate and stylized relief sculptures

crossing

bay where transept intersects w main body of church → creates cruciform church

crossing dome

in a cruciform plan, there is a dome over the crossing and 4 barrel vaults over the arms (creating ambulatory)

Galleries

type of balcony that overlooks nave

triforium

architectural device that separates the arcade form eh balcony windows above (clerestory)

• row of tiny arches carved into stone

rose window

decorated circular window, often glazed w stained glass

• common motif in gothic architecture

centering

type of falsework, temporary structure to create domes and arches

pointed arch

arch w pointed crow, meet at angle at top of arch

radiating chapels

found in gothic churches

projecting chapels arranged around the ambulatory

• place for pilgrims to pray and admire important relics

chevet

altar at end of church

gothic

Architectural style in Europe that lasted from mid 12th-16th century

style of masonry buildings characterized by cavernous spaces w the expanse of walls broken up by overlaid tracery

Abbot Suger

French abbot and adviser to kings Louis VI VII

supervised rebuilding of abbey church of Saint-Denis → instrumental in development of Gothic style of architecture

Umayyad

Architecture: distinguished by a variety of decoration (mosaics, wall paintings, sculptures, varved reliefs w Islamic motifs)

• used local workers and architects

• influenced by Christian architecture → Umayyad mosques in Damascucs, dome of the Rock

  • Islamic characteristics added → domes, beacons, Arabic script of holy quran and style of arab decoration

• empire known for spreading islam and arabic language

abbasid

architecture: foliate decorations on arches, pendant vaults, muqarnas vaults, polychrome interlaced spandrels → became identified as typical “islamic” architecture

spandrel (intrados)

interior curve or surface of an arch or vault

Muqarnas

form of decorative vaulting in Islamic architecture

• surface of vault or dome subdivided into niche-like cells that have no load bearing function

• stalactite or honeycomb vaulting

used in religious monuments, considered to be symbol of god’s presence

shahada

declaration of faith in one god (allah) and his messenger

T-mosque

i dunno…

Masqura

enclosure, box, wooden screen near the mihrab or the center of the qibla wall in a mosque

• used by ruler for protection and status

spolia

stones taken from an old structure and repurposed for new construction or decorative purposes squi

squinch

a triangular corner that supports the base of a dome

• translates a rectangle into an octagon

mansa musa

• one of the richest kings ever, ruled over Mali empire in the 14th century

• developed cities like Timbuktu and Gao into important cultural centers

  • brought architects form the middle east and across africa to design new buildings

  • built the great mosque at timbuktu

• pilgrimage to mecca introduced wealth and power to the mediterranean

  • cemented reputation as the wealthiest person and most powerful rulers of his time

  • helped spread influence of islam throughout west africa and strengthened mali empire’s position

lalibela

town in Amhara region of N Ethiopia

known for distinctive rock-cut churches

• pilgrimage sites for Christians

• many are joined by tunnels and trenches

• carved bas-reliefs and colored frescoes are inside

greek cross

architecture definition: a plan of a building having a square central mass and four equal arms

other definition: a cross of which all four arms are of equal length

• symbolize church itself

eunuch

castrated servants, employed to guard women living in court

Literati

the literate elite → composed of individuals who passed the civil service exam, became the scholarly and governmental elite of society

Inner city

governing court, resting court

outer city

dedicated to agriculture

Ming

(1368 to 1644) last han imperial dynasty following collapse of Mongol led Yuan dynasty

collapsed form internal rebellions, external wars, inter-ethic conflicts, droughts, locusts, and floods

Qing dynasties

(1644 to 1911)

founded by NE ppl (Manchus)

• expanded china’s territory and population

• fell because of internal and external pressures

I-plan/Gong plan

idk help

gong in chinese → work/worker

yin and yang

principles in chinese theology - balance

• yin → north, female, dark

• yang → south, male, light

corn cultures

domesticated over centuries, maize nourished civilizations that became might empires of early Americas

anasazi

ancient native american culture

known for sophisticated dwellings

• complex network of roadways

• transportation systems

• communication routes

• making ornate and highly functional pottery

Chaco Canyon

major center of ancestral Puebloan culture

• known for monumental buildings, distinctive architecture, astronomy, artistic achievements

• hub for ceremonies, trade, administration for 4 corners

climate change → led to emigration of chaco and abandonment of canyon

kiva, great kiva

round rooms in pueblos

• used for rituals, political meetings, casual gatherings

sipapu

small hole/indentation in floor of kiva

• symbolize portal where ancient ancestors first emerged to enter present world

Aztec (also known as Mexica)

Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central mexico (15-16th century)

agriculture → high productivity bc of chinampas, aqueducts, and irrigation system

religion → syncretistic: absorbed elements from other mesoamerican cultures, human sacrifices

inventions → causeways: connect capital city to mainland, number system and calendar

nahuatl

language that originated form aztec culture, now spoken in several regions of mexico

huitzilopochtli

aztec sun of god and war

represented in art as a hummingbird or eagle

tlaloc

god of rain and earthly fertility

children sacraficed for tlaloc

chinampas

floating gardens

rich soil from bottom of lake piled on top to form ridges between rows of ditches and canals

renaissance

revival/rebirth of classical learning and wisdom following the middle ages

Loggia

an outdoor corridor/gallery w a fully covered roof and outer wall that’s open to the elements

run alongside the facade of a building or exist as a stand alone feature

pietra serena

macigno stone → blue gray sandstone used in renaissance Florence for architectural details

vitruvian man

da vinci study of human form

• demonstrates perfect ratios and proportions found in human anatomy through the application of geometry and mathematics

palazzo

arch style of 19-20th centry

based on palaces built by wealthy families of Italian Renaissance

• large building in city

• functioned as a governmental or institutional facility, private residence or both

characteristics

• symmetrical, linear structure

• colonnades, loggias, large central courtyards, large windows, high ceilings

piano nobile

“noble floor”

main floor of renaissance building, main reception rooms, raised one story above ground level w basement or ground floor below

Alberti, On the art of building (de re aedificatoria) 1452

describe architecture as a comprehensive art, combining individual structures and greater urban spaces as a unified whole

1st printed book ab architecture

volutes

spiral, scroll-like ornament that forms the basis, capital of ionic columns

• later incorporated into Corinthian order and composite column capitals

Early vs high renaissance

early (quattrocento)

• stress perspective work/technical aspects of painting

• human figures rendered in dynamic poses, showing expressions, using gestures/interaction w one another

  ex: brunelleschi, donatello, masaccio

high (cinquecento)

• visual, symmetrical, compositional perfection

• willing to sacrifice technical principles to create more beautiful and harmonious work

  • # of patrons increased = greater development of art

  ex: mona lisa, last supper, pieta, david

mannerisim

part of high renaissance

• extreme sophistication, complexity, novelty

• distortion of human figure, flattening of pictorial space, cultivated intellectual sophistication

the humanities

world view centered on nature and importance of humanity

Vasari, Lives of the Artists, 1550

series of artists biographies

considered the most famous, and most read work of older literature art

Palladio, the four books of architecture, 1570

summary of palladio’s studies of classical architecture (roman arch)

• used # of own designs to exemplify principles of roman designs

Council of Trent

catholic churches response ot the protestant reformation

reaffirmed authority of catholic church, codified scripture, reformed abuses, condemned protestant theology

Counter-reformation

efforts in 16-17th century to oppose the protestant reformation and reform the catholic church

the Baroque

extravagant style of art characterized by curving lines, gilt, and gold

• supposed to evoke a sense of grandeur, reverence, and awe

highly ornate

• features figures in motions, deep contrast of light and dark

baroque rome “the city as a garden”

garden style based on symmetry and the principle of imposing order on nature

• illustrate mastery of man over nature

• designed to be seen from above or form a little distance

• laid out like rooms in houses, meeting points marked by fountains or statues

• water → in form of long rectangular ponds

• pavilions often in center

ex: Vatican and Villa Borghese Gardens in rome

Jesutis

Roman catholic order of religious men founded by st. ignatius of loyola

• known for educational, missionary, and charitable works

  • founded schools throughout EU, teachers educated in classical studies and theology

  • convert non Christians

  • stopped spread of Protestantism

solomic columns

helical column, spiraling twisting shaft like a corkscrew

global trade in 16 century

african sea route dominated by Portuguese → spice trade route

• route linked 3 oceans → moluccas (the spice island) to malacca, kerala and Sri Lanka to lisbon

global silver trade between americas, europe, and china

Incas

began as small tribe that steadily grew in power to conquer other ppl down the coast from columbia to argentina → became the largest empire in the world

contributions to religon, architecture, network of roads, communication systems (quipu → system of strings and knots that recorded information)

mendicants

member of roman catholic church who assumes vow of poverty and supports himself/herself by work and charitable contributions

atrio

spanish courtyard, usually enclosed by a wall, in front of a church

• many had crosses in the center

atrial crosses

large cross mad by mendicant friars in atriums of churches

• symbolically point towards center of town

plateresque

highly ornamental style of architecture, art, and design that originated in Spain during renaissance period

characterized by ornate decorative facades covered w floral designs, chandeliers, festoons, fantastic creatures, and all sorts of configurations (very gothic inspired)

• richly ornamented in low relief style suggesting silver work

syncretism

combination of different forms of beliefs or practices

mestizo, mestizaje

mixed person → european and indigenous

mudejar style

result of particular political, social, and cultural conditions that prevailed in spain after reconquista

influenced by islamic traditions, reflects gothic architecture

characterized by extremely refined and inventive use of bricks and glazed tiles, very ornamental

• stylized calligraphy, intricate geometric forms

• horseshoe and multi-lobed arch, wooden roofing, ornamental stucco work

encomiendas

legal system the spanish crown granted to particular spanish settlers a number of local native people (to use for labor), gold, agricultural produce

• people they owned “protection” and instruction in the Christian faith

hacienda

a system where owners of large states directly employed native workers w lower wages, high taxes, and large debts to the landowners

retablo

devotional paintings, especially a small popular or folk art one using iconography derived form traditional catholic church art

• used to thank a sacred person for protection in precarious situations such as illness/earthquakes

law of indies

body of law made by spanish crown during 16,17,18th centuries for governing its colonies outside of europe, mainly in americas, it is a series of ceduals/decrees

ranchos

1st established during Spanish rule

• large land grants given to individuals who had been loyal to the Spanish crown