Ancient Building Projects: From Mesopotamia to Roman Antiquity

Introduction: Building History from Civilization's Dawn

The twenty building projects discussed below represent the project activities of the periods examined and provide supporting examples for the historical evidence. They represent the application of areas of expertise to project activities from the dawn of civilization to classical antiquity. Undoubtedly, building construction is a dynamic field for historical research. Much can be learned about social organization, management skills, technology, and aesthetics through investigating the various forms and histories of important buildings. Starting with the great ziggurat monuments in Mesopotamia, the human desire to build large-scale structures is a historical constant. It is also deeply linked to the cultural and religious consciousness that sought expression through the construction of these buildings — an aspect clearly evident in many ancient civilizations.

In terms of labor, massive amounts of muscle and toil went into creating great brick and stone buildings that still stand today. The pyramids were built without the aid of cranes or train transportation, while later domes were erected without scaffolding using new hoisting mechanisms. In Ancient Greece, cranes replaced the use of ramps; in Roman times, various forms of construction machinery had been developed. It therefore becomes evident that the history of project activities reflects something important about society and its methods of management. Organization and management in the building and construction process is clearly evident in the advance of knowledge and expertise — for example, in the construction of the Roman Colosseum, where a rotational method of circulating labor was used to build the enormous structure.

Technology and materials also advanced over the centuries. From mud-brick to stone, from simple post-and-beam to sophisticated arches and dome construction, the "what and how" of building in terms of materials and engineering expertise changed in often dramatic ways. Engineering feats such as the dome of the Roman Pantheon inspired later cultures and civilizations. The Romans perfected the cement arch, while the Greeks refined the marble column. All these changes were made possible by developments in materials; however, perhaps most importantly, technical changes in construction techniques and tools shaped the field of building construction fundamentally. One could refer, for example, to the construction of aqueducts and waterways. In this regard, one should continually bear in mind the significance of cultural forces and perceptions that often act in concert with the more materialistic aspects of building and architecture — a factor prominent in both earlier and later building development, albeit with differences in intensity and emphasis depending on the culture and its needs. One could mention the importance of the gods in the Greek Parthenon, for instance.

This paper explores many of these factors and variables, as well as the changes that occurred, by means of a summary investigation into the construction history of these twenty important buildings.