Architecture
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Apart from possessing a functional and ornamental value, architecture also tells the story about the character and the culture of the society, thus reflecting the spirit of the people and the age. Even though historians tend to consider only public monuments and majestic buildings as "architecture," the architecture that is most representative of the society consists of ordinary and drab buildings (Kostof 15). Although they cannot be considered esthetically pleasing to the eye, their value rests in their reflection of the reality of the ordinary people. As Spiro Kostof points out in his book, A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals, the images of the history of the South are incomplete without including the "slave cabins, out houses, herb gardens, and water vats" (15). Although these structures can hardly be considered beautiful, they constitute an integral part of the society of the South during the slavery period. The existence of architecture from different eras serves to capture the human history as it evolves through time and place. Thus, these buildings are one of the few concrete means with which one can preserve the irretrievable past and survey human development. In this paper, some specific buildings and city designs will be evaluated within the context of the society and its period. In the ancient Greek city, apart from providing a place of worship, the Greek temple represented the freedom and democracy of the Greek city. It was a symbol of unity for th
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preserve and baths. Baths served an important social function. In the Umayyad palaces, a state room was also constructed within the bathing complex. A variety of entertainment was offered in the state room. Therefore, there was an intermingling of state affairs and entertainmentùa reflection of an ancient Eastern tradition of mixing leisure activities with formal activities (Kostof 287). Therefore, it is evident that the palace represented the key role of the ruler in the lives of the people.
Even within the mosque, the ruler or his official representative led the prayers. The sermon given was not of a religious nature; instead, it was a political speech designed to reinforce the people in their commitment to the city (Kostof 287). Nonetheless, the mosque was a structure that had an important purpose to the Muslim people because of the pervasive influence of the religion. The Muslims were expected to pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan and embark on the pilgrimage to Mecca (Kostof 287). However, unlike the complex architectural setting of Western religions, the monotheism of the Muslim faith excluded the worship of relics and saints, which eliminated the presence of artistic works within the mosque. Therefore, any archit
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Approximate Word count = 1391
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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