Course Objective

Global development of technologies of structures and architecture through the centuries is associated with intertwining needs of societal culture, progress, and wars. This class helps the students understand architecture and construction as related to societies. It also helps the students understand the importance of Conservation of Historical Sites and Structures as part of World Heritage. The students will document their course experience through reflections in blogs in the form of e-portfolio . Students Blogs are in the following Link:

Student Blogs- Click Here

The class uses problem based learning approach to study the relationships of Architecture Construction and Culture while focusing on four structures : The Colosseum, Circus Maximus, The Pantheon, Theater of Marcellus.

Click here to View the Coure Syllabus

Click Here to View Instructions for Creating this e-Portfolio

Rome Colosseum

In the course e-portfolio / blog created by each student, the student will replace the artifacts and text below with their own artifacts and reflection on their experience in researching Roman Architecture, Construction and Culture while using the particular PBL

In its time, the Colosseum was one of the greatest amphitheaters of the world. It was completed in the first century and was a place for games of the time- From fights of gladiators and wild animals the Colosseum had its own share of blood shed.

For Roman at that time, gladiators were aspiring athletes that fight. Many were slaves, prisoners of wars, or criminals. They were sponsored by rich politicians who paid for their training and arranged for their care in between fights.

The Colosseum was built around a simple innovative concept of the time, the Arch. Eighty Arches (video) encircled the Colosseum on the outer ring. They supported two more stories of arches for a total of two hundred and forty arches.

Click Here to View the Colosseum- Problem Based Learning

Circus Maximus

In the course e-portfolio / blog created by each student, the student will replace the artifacts and text below with their own artifacts and reflection on their experience in researching Roman Architecture, Construction and Culture while using the particular PBL

The Chariot Races

King Tarquin laid out an arena (arena comes from the Latin for sand: harena) known as the Circus Maximus for racing chariots. Down the center was a barrier (spina), with pillars at each end around which charioteers had to maneuver -- carefully. Julius Caesar enlarged this circus to 1800 feet in length by 350 feet wide. Seats (150,000 in Caesar's time) were on terraces over stone arched vaults. A building with stalls and entrances to the seats surrounded the circus. The last games were held in the sixth century A.D.


Click Here to View the Circus Maximus- Problem Based Learning

The Pantheon

In the course e-portfolio / blog created by each student, the student will replace the artifacts and text below with their own artifacts and reflection on their experience in researching Roman Architecture, Construction and Culture using the particular PBL.

The Roman Pantheon is the most preserved and influential building of ancient Rome. It is a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods of pagan Rome. As the brick stamps on the side of the building reveal it was built and dedicated between A.D 118 and 125.

The emperor Hadrian (A.D 117-138) built the Pantheon to replace Augustus’ friend and Commander Marcus Agrippa’s Pantheon of 27 B.C. which burnt to the ground in 80 A.D.
When approaching the front of the Pantheon one can see the inscription above still reads in Latin the original dedication by Marcus Agrippa. The inscription reads:

"M. AGRIPPA.L.F.COSTERTIUM.FECIT”
“Marcus Agrippa son of Lucius, having been consul three times made it”.

Click Here to View the Pantheon Problem Based Learning

The Theater of Marcellus

In the course e-portfolio / blog created by each student, the student will replace the artifacts and text below with their own artifacts and reflection on their experience in researching Roman Architecture, Construction and Culture while using the particular PBL

The Theater of Marcellus was built by Emperor Augustus in 13 BC. It was the largest theater in ancient Rome.

After Julius Caesar defeated Pompey in the struggle for control over Rome, he wanted to build a theater rivaling the Pompey theater which Caesar's his bitter enemy had built in 55 BC. When Caesar was killed in 44 BC the project had only just started. In 22 BC Augustus, known as the emperor who turned Rome from a city of brick into a city of marble, restarted the project.

Marcellus

The new theater, the largest of theRoman Empire, was finally dedicated in 13 BC and named

Theatrum Marcelli in memory of Marcellus, the son of Augustus' sister Octavia. Marcellus was the intended heir of Augustus, but he died at a young age.

Click Here to View Theater Marcellus Problem Based Learning

Students Blog- The Visit to Rome

In the following blogs, each student in the class "Roman Architecture, Construction and Culture" will research one unique historical site in Rome and vicinity. The student will give a short history/description of the site and reflect on the research he/she conducted on the site. Finally, the student will post information on cost of the site visit, and explains how to get there including interesting links to the site.

Click Here to View Google Earth Map with Archaeological Sites

At the end of the class, an itinerary will specify the sites to be visited by the class in Rome as a group. The students can use this blog to learn about visits to other sites not specified in the Itinerary.

Picture Album and Reflections

In this section, the students will place Picture Album in their own blogs (in PowerPoint or other formats) to be seen from within the e-Portfolio and Reflect on the visit to Rome. Hence, this blog shall include:

- Picture Album
- Reflection on the visit to Rome
- Reflection on the entire Course