BYZANTINE

The longest political entity in European history was the Byzantine Empire, lasting from 324-1453. This Empire was influenced by the Greeks and Orient and was associated with the Eastern Culture. When it came to architecture, this empire came up with a new type: Domed Basilica. This was a combination of a dome from the east and the square base of the classical temple of the west. Central planning included the Greek Cross Plan. This meant it had round arches and arcades. The mosaics had many gold or lapis backgrounds. The brick and stone they used would almost always be alternating in color. They would even put blocks on the columns. The interiors of these domes were divided into bays and the church interior and nave were always separated. An interesting fact of the Byzantine design was that Romanesque, Islamic and Gothic architecture were all based on it. There are a few buildings that are still remaining from this time period and they are all churches and temples. The flooring was tiled in marble, often geographic designs. Floor tiles were more durable than the wall tiles they would use. They would include marble, frescos, mosaics and alabaster on the ceilings and walls.

Photos:




Current Applications:



















YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWhGeDUSu-s