STRAYER HUM111 WEEK 4 DISCUSSION BOTH

"Rome’s Major Urban Structures" Please respond to the following, using sources under the Explore heading as the basis of your response:

• Select one (1) of the following famous ancient Roman structures that you find most fascinating: Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Pantheon, insulae, or bath complexes. After exploring the related resource(s) below on Rome, describe one (1) structure that you found most fascinating. Identify two (2) specific aspects of the structure in question, and make a comparison to specific aspects of modern urban life.

Explore

Rome's Major Urban Structures

• Chapter 6 (pp. 174-5, 191-207), Roman architecture
• Colosseum images at http://www.the-colosseum.net/architecture/amphitheatrum-en.htm
• Circus Maximus images at http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/circus.html and http://romancolosseum.org/circus-maximus-in-rome/
• Circus Maximus article at http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/circusmaximus/circusmaximus.html
• Roman bath complexes at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/roman/day.html Click on the numbers for a stroll through the Baths of Caracalla

"Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia" Please respond to the following, using sources under the Explore heading as the basis of your response:

• In considering Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia, describe the primary techniques that the architects used to keep such a large dome from collapsing. Explain the key aspects of the design that allow light inside of the Hagia Sophia, and speculate on the comments that Augustine might have had on the importance of this design feature. Of the Byzantine mosaics in Chapter 8 and in the Explore area, identify the one (1) that you enjoy most. Then, explain the message that it was intended to communicate to the medieval worshipper. Identify one (1) specific work of art in modern times that communicates in some similar way, whether for religious, political, or ideological purposes.

Explore

Constantinople's Hagia Sophia

• Chapter 9 (pp. 263-277)
• Images at http://www.livescience.com/27574-hagia-sophia.html
• Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng--WLT0Xjc
• Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna, Italy at http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/byzantine-justinian.html