Ancient Building Technology, Volume 1: Historical Background

This work surveys the building technology in a period from prehistory to the end of the Classical World in the region of Europe, the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin. After an historical survey of construction from first shelters to late antique building, the volume considers materials of construction, structural systems (framed, load-bearing and so on), processes of construction (project drawings, site preparation, equipments and works organization), and forms of construction (walls, floors, foundations, etc). It concludes with a discussion of the evolution and diffusion of building technology and of the role of social and technical factors, culture and civilization in its development.