The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
Course Name: History and Theory of Architecture (1) Course Leader: Prof. Shaher Rababeh
Course Number: ARCH 241 Office No.: D440
Course Hours: Credit Hours 3, Contact Hours (3+0) E-mail Address: srababeh@hu.edu.jo
Course Prerequisites: ARCH 111 Office Hours: Available Online (Always)
Course Instructor: Arch Rabab Muhsen
Course Location: Studio 204
Office No.: D404
Course Time: Sun, Mon, Tues., 10:40 – 11:55 Office Phone: 3204
online, Wed. 18:00-19:15 E-mail Address: rabab.r.m@hu.edu.jo
Office Hours: 12.00-1.00 Mon, Tues.
Course Description:
This course examines the historical evolution of architecture from its early prehistoric period up to the
end of Roman architecture. The focus will be on studying and analyzing selected monuments/ cities
from Ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Aegean and Asia Minor, and the architecture of classical Greek
and Roman civilizations. While the course is designed in a chronological sequence, we will question
and focus on the socio-cultural, socio-political, theological and environmental factors that played and
shaped the built environment of the examined civilizations.
Course Goals & Objectives:
Understand the architecture of the ancient civilization,
Understand architecture’s cultural development as an architectural form and the creative
processes that have generated it over time;
Expose to a compendium of the ideas and theories that have shaped architecture in various
historical periods,
Understand the historical development of architectural practice and the diversity of forces that
have impacted on it over time,
Integrate architectural history with students’ approach to develop the students' knowledge of
design, conservation sciences and architectural heritage,
Course learning outcomes:
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
Develop the analytical skills and understand the terminology of architectural history,
Understand the evolution and make a comparative analysis of construction methods related
to existing materials, technology, art, and labor through different ages,
Classify of the architectural historical periods and understand the architecture as physical
response to human needs at certain time, and place (Space-Time theory),
Understand the influences of Orient: Mesopotamian and Egyptian architecture on Western
architecture and understand the Greek and Roman architecture as transmission of style and
technology, and distinguish a particular architectural style from another,
Understand of the relationship between architectural form and the development and
transmission of new typologies, construction materials and techniques, and aesthetic values,
Understand the different architectural styles and forms of various ancient civilizations and
apply this knowledge on design studio, and
Differentiate between the original architectural styles and their developing through ages,
NAAB Student Performance Criteria:
A7. Historical and Global Culture
A8. Cultural Diversity and Social Equity
Topics: Topics that will be covered in lectures, readings, in-class discussion, field trips and modeling
include: Prehistoric Architecture, Mesopotamian Architecture, Egyptian Architecture, Greek
Architecture, Hellenistic and Roman Architecture.
Methods of Learning & Teaching & their Contribution to Learning Outcomes:
Lectures with data show illustration.
Visual materials such as videos, flashes and virtual trips all over the historical sites and
buildings.
Short fieldtrips to selected Jordanian historical sites.
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 1 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
Model making of historical buildings and monuments to use analytical drawing and sketches to
learn about details, features, elements, materials and structural systems used through ancient
architectural history so as to enhance model-making skills.
Each student should make a sketch book to use written and non-written techniques to learn about
ancient architectural history.
Project Process and Requirements: As one part of the coursework requirements, model and poster
of some historic buildings that discussed in the module lecture series will be required. The model needs
to show the building’s material, interior, exterior, architectural and structural features.
The project is a cyclic process that applies the following phase:
(phase1) one week: to choose group members and seminal building. Every group chooses
a different building.
(phase2) one week: to collect data, drawings and sketches about the building.
(phase3) one week: for doing architectural theoretical analysis for the presentation,
and to scale/ check drawings dimensions and proportions required for the model/
poster making
(phase4) one week: First submission: starting model making and materials selection trials,
suitable scale confirming, and suitable analysis and presentation template.
(phase5) two weeks: Second submission to ensure finished more than 50% of model,
presentation and poster, starting finish materials, colors if needed, details, preliminary poster
design, presentation layout and topics.
(phase6) one week: prefinal submission to ensure you had finished more than 80% of model,
apply finish materials, details, poster design, and presentation confirming.
(phase7) one week: Final submission: to submit final model, sketch book, poster and
presentation. (Both hard and soft copy).
Model requirements: proportioned, durable and stiffness model
Size: 50x50x50 h,
Base: 6 mm hard wood
Mark: 10%
Poster requirements:
Size: portrait 100x170
Name of building, historical period and significance, summery profile, architectural and structural
features, main analytical sketches and drawing, model images.
Mark:5%
Presentation requirements: simultaneously undertake research on the building and make a formal
20-minute group presentation to the nominated tutor and peers.
Format: PPT
Cover: course name and number, building name, group member’s names.
Mark:10%
At the presentation:
should explain historical background and significance, building profile, the basic ideas
underpinning the building, the relationship between the building’s features and the philosophy;
symbology, architectural and structural features, main analytical sketches and drawings, model
making stages, used material and technique. Mistakes and failed trials in techniques and
selection of materials in model making so benefit to mentioned.
Each student in the group should participate in the oral presentation.
Other groups of students are asked to learn not only about their own buildings but those built
by their peers.
The follow up submissions takes place in a morning free time in the studios space or online.
The presentation of the project takes place in a lecture time.
Participation sketchbook and project follow up will be dragged individually.
Sketchbook requirements:
Organized topics of semester lectures discussion.
Fully of architectural sketches for historical buildings, plans, details, elements…etc.
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 2 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
Notes on comparisons analysis and theoretical backgrounds
Highlighting on new terms and vocabularies with drawings explain that.
Course evaluation:
Exams: Written exams designed to measure knowledge of presented course material
Projects analysis and presentation: Assignments designed to measure ability to expand
critical thought and apply and present course material
Sketchbook: well done sketchbook to supplement and reinforce course material
Class Attendance/Participation: Daily attendance and participation in class discussions
Mid-Exam 25%
Project (poster, Model, presentation) 25%
Sketch (note) book submission 5%
Quizzes 5%
Participation 5%
Essay 5%
Final Exam 30%
Total 100%
Evaluation and Assessment Criteria:
Exams:
Explaining the nature of architectural design concepts related to different factors through
ages.
Comparing architectural features of different eras,
Differentiate between architectural styles and follow their developing through ages,
Apply philosophy of designs and inter-relations with contexts in architectural design,
Apply the correct use of classic styles.
Defining, analyzing, reviewing, using and criticizing different theoretical, topics, architectural
and structural vocabularies
Explaining the nature of construction methods related to existing materials, technology and
labor through different ages,
Explaining how of evolution of construction, art and architecture through ages,
Developing critical thinking abilities,
Explaining the succession, evolution and growth of different cultures and the influences of
earlier on the later.
Explaining the philosophy of different architectural styles,
Employing the drawings and sketches to explain the idea.
Project:
Employing primary methods of data collection and analysis to inform all aspects of the
building modeling.
Developing co-operative teamwork skills
effectively managing tasks and resources within constrained time,
Practicing the neatness and aesthetics of model making and material selection.
Practicing on manual and other technical aids in modeling
Developing presentation and poster design skills,
Communicating effectively orally and graphically
Employing appropriate architectural communication and representational media including
computer technology to present the project.
Sketchbook:
Submitting your written notes.
Developing graphical thinking and communication skills.
Classifying and explaining the related topics
Using keywords and drawings to express the ideas.
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 3 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
Written paper (Essay): 1000 words
A brief essay which identifies the main points of each lecture and your informed opinion/response.
This might involve identifying strengths weaknesses in the argument or relating the lecture to themes
discussed in class. Give specific reason for your objection and/or praise.
This might also include writing a brief paper on a related architectural historical topic, era, monument
or building related to these discussed in the lecture series that provide new insight into this topic.
Required Skills
1) Research Skills:
Observation, perception and abstraction.
Analytical reading of historical resources.
2) Critical thinking Skills:
Applying a comprehensive cycle of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation process.
Employing data collection and analysis/synthesis in all aspects of the discussing and
expressing ideas.
3) Communication Skills
Presenting the main ideas by using different communication techniques, tools and means
(sketching, drawing, model making supported by explanatory analytical text).
Communicating the main ideas exhibited in the analytical synthetic phase orally
Students will have the opportunity to use both hand drafting and computer drafting skills
Developing entrepreneurial skills and effective self-management
Course schedule (this is tentative, and will be adjusted as the class progresses)
Submission Due Marks
Week
Date
Course syllabus (overview).
16/7/2023
Sunday
Understanding the meaning of "Architectural History: A grand tour ".
17/7/2023
Monday
Why we study "History of Architecture".
Documentary sources and tools
General Factors affecting the shaping of built environment
Prehistoric Architecture
1
18/7/2023
When did Architecture begin?
Tuesday
Caves and Huts (Camp).
Proto-Urban: the creation of agricultural villages (Beidha, Jericho, Amman
-Ain Gazal, Chirokitia,
Catalhoyuk)
Geometric trend: Meaning of Geometry and the concept of Angle.
19/7/2023
The
Wednesday
First Monuments: Menhir, Dolmen, Gromliche.
Urban Revolution: Early City States
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 4 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
Mesopotamian Architecture
23/7/2023 General Influences (Land, Materials, Religion)
Sunday
Architecture
Temples and Ziggurats (High Place).
24/7/2023
Monday
2
Tombs, Palaces, Fortification and Gates
25/7/2023
Tuesday
Egyptian Architecture
Wednesday
26/7/2023
General Influences (Social, Religion, Land).
The Burial of Kings: Mastabas and Pyramids
Deir el-Bahri: Valley of Kings and Queens
30/7/2023
Sunday
Meanings and Philosophy
Temples
Interrelation (Pyramid-Temple-Obelisk)
31/7/2023
City Planning (Grid system: Tell Amarneh)
Monday
Buildings for Defense
3
5
Comparison between Egyptian & Mesopotamian Architecture
1/8/2023
Tuesday
Greek Architecture
Wednesday
The Aegean and Asia Minor Architecture
2/8/2023
General Influences.
Asia Minor ( Hattusas, Beycesultan and Troy: Gates and Castles)
Minoans and Mycenaeans (Knossoss and Mycenaea;
6/8/2023
Sunday
Palaces and Tombs).
4
Archaic: Dark Age; Classical: Golden Age
7/8/2023
Greek Temples (Origin and Classification system)
Monday
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 5 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
Orders and Proportions
8/8/2023 Greek Refinements
Tuesday
Polis and Acropolis
Wednesday
Public Buildings and Dwellings
9/8/2023
Mid Exam 25%
13/8/2023
Sunday
Hellenistic and Roman Architecture
14/8/2023
Monday
General Influences
Refining thought (Hellenistic)Rock-Cut architecture
5
City Planning (Hippodamian).
15/8/2023
Comparison between Hellenistic, Greek and Roman Architecture
Tuesday
Wednesday
16/8/2023
Roman Architecture
General Influences Early Roman Architecture (Etruscans).
25%
20/8/2023
Project Submission
Sunday
Roman Temples
Dwellings
21/8/2023
Public Buildings (Concrete Discovery)
Monday
6
9
Notebook Submission 5%
22/8/2023
Tuesday
Students presentations (final)
Students presentations (final)
Wednesday
23/8/2023
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 6 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
Deadline for paper submission 5%
27/8/2023
Sunday
Students presentations (final)
Students presentations (final)
28/8/2023
Monday
7
Students presentations (final)
29/8/2023
Tuesday
Students presentations (final)
Wednesday
30/8/2023
Final Exams 30%
8
Submission Policy:
All exams, requirements and phases are due on the assigned date. Due date are fixed and not to be
extended. Late work will not be accepted, not receive credit, and will result in a grade of 0.0. All students
must be present to submit and present their works as make-up opportunities are very limited and will
be granted only when caused by a university excused absence. It is also understood that emergencies
do occur. If a university excused absence or a valid emergency is reported and approved, a make-up
presentation/pin‐up must occur during the next scheduled class period to avoid a penalty. In the
professional work environment, late work is not acceptable! Therefore, late work that is accepted will
receive a 50% reduction on its original grade, e.g., an original grade of 100% will be reduced to 50%;
90% will be reduced to 45%, et al
Requirements:
The studio considers being your second home, so you expect to respect the rules and regulations of
your home! All students are expected to:
set up a homelike environment and work in studio during regularly scheduled class hours;
participate actively in studio discussions, activities, and interact with classmates through
discussion and work critique in the studio;
be persistent and thoughtful in design explorations and execute all design phases with care;
Be adequately prepared to work on ongoing projects in the studio and for the instructor’s desk
critiques, as well as for presentations. Students are expected to show measurable progress in
their work from one class to the next.
be responsive to comments made by instructors, teaching assistants and peers;
explore alternatives and make revisions and refinements;
keep records of the whole design process on tracing paper and in a journal;
conduct themselves professionally –this includes respecting the rights and property of others
work co-operatively with other students and team projects satisfactorily
complete all design phases requirements on time;
Attend all studio meetings, be on time, and stay for the entire scheduled session.
turn off the cell phones before meeting times and remain off during the meeting times
Attendance:
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 7 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
It is essential and required for all students to be on time and present for all studio meetings, class
lectures, and reviews. Attendance is mandatory as each class builds upon those that precede it, and
interaction with other students in the studio is a fundamental dynamic of the course. This course will
emphasize collaborative effort and in-class discussion, as well as the lecture information needed to
complete the assignments. Students are expected to be present and prepared to discuss the material.
No more than 15% absences will be permitted and excused. Five or more absences (excused or
unexcused) will lead to an automatic failure in the course and will not be able to continue on (Excused
absences such as illness or personal emergency). Participation and absences will begin accumulating
on the first day of class.
Missed class time results in a missed opportunity for learning and growth. Each and every absence
from class will impact a student’s grade in class participation. There is no possibility to make up a
missed seminar session. A session with your professor may or may not be possible and cannot
duplicate the collective conversation. As a result, our policy on attendance is extremely strict.
Once any student has any comment or question concerning the class, lecture topics and his personal
development, please do not hesitate to contact the instructor(s). Cell phones are not allowed in class.
Computers in class should be used for course material only.
Student Work Load: For this course, you are expected to work approximately 9 hours per week
outside of the lecture class. This is an average.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to comply with the Hashemite University rules for absence
and reporting student excuse for absence from class. No more than four unjustified absences will be
permitted. Missed class time results in missed opportunity for learning and growth. Each and every
absence from class will impact a student’s grade in class participation. Once any student has any
comment or question concerning the class, lecture topics and/or his personal development, please don’t
hesitate to contact the instructor(s). Academic integrity means that university staff and students, in their
teaching and learning are expected to treat others honestly, fairly and with respect. It is not acceptable
to mistreat academic, intellectual or creative work that has been done by other people by representing
it as the student's own original work. Cheating during exams is strictly prohibited and might expose
students to severe penalties.
Final Documentation (Archiving System): Each student will be required to submit and archive his/her
work electronically, as per the approved template, at the end of the semester. So students are advice
to regularly document all course work. This will be weighted with the rest of the semester's work towards
the final grade.
Grade Determination: Letter grades for the course will be assigned approximately as follows:
96-100 A+ Outstanding work only; honors-level work;
92-<96 A Close to outstanding;
88-<92 A- Still excellent;
84-<88 B+ Very Good Work;
78-<84 B Good Work; High quality work;
74-<78 B- Good work with some problems
70-<74 C+ Slightly Above Average Work;
65-<70 C Average Work: Satisfactory work; Satisfactory
60-<65 C- Average Work with some problems; Minimally acceptable
55-<60 D+ Poor Work with some effort: Less than satisfactory work: Passing, but
unsatisfactory;
50-<55 D Poor Work
00-<50 F Inadequate Work: Failure; inferior performance
Key References & Readings:
Fletcher, Banister, A History of Architecture on the comparative method. 17th edition, 2016.
Kostof, Spiro, A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals. 2nd Edition, 1995. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Moffett, Fazio, Wodehouse, Buildings across Time (or A World History of Architecture). Any Edition,
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 8 of 6
The Hashemite University Course Syllabus
Faculty of Engineering Spring Semester
Architectural Department 2019/2020
McGraw-Hill
Rudolph Wittkower, Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism, Any Edition, London, A. Tiranti
Sigfried Giedion, Space, Time and Architecture, Any Edition, 1941-2005, Harvard University Press.
ARCH 241 Course Syllabus Page 9 of 6
