Ancient Beginnings
The earliest large structures were these massive structures built in places such as Egypt.
What are pyramids?
This material is very strong in compression but weak in tension.
What is stone?
The art and science of designing buildings for human habitation is called this.
What is architecture?
This branch of engineering deals with the design and construction of public works such as bridges and dams.
What is civil engineering?
In the 1890s, this material replaced iron as the material of choice for large construction projects.
What is steel?
These are solid walls that provide support for each other and the roof.
What are bearing walls?
This Egyptian architect is considered the earliest known architect.
Who is Imhotep?
These wedge-shaped units make up an arch.
What are voussoirs?
This term describes construction methods that use locally available resources and traditions to meet local needs.
What is vernacular architecture?
The need for dependable water supplies led ancient civilizations to construct dams, canals, and these structures.
What are aqueducts?
Steel contains iron and this element, which makes it harder and tougher.
What is carbon?
This is a curved structure designed to span an opening and support vertical loads primarily through axial compression.
What is an arch?
Early engineering was primarily centered around obtaining this basic human necessity.
What is food?
This special voussoir at the crown of an arch locks the other voussoirs in place.
What is the keystone?
This is the quality of an object that deals with art, beauty, and taste.
What is aesthetics?
Persians and Romans developed these for strategic and commercial purposes.
What are road systems?
This famous landmark was one of the last major iron structures and marked the end of the iron era.
What is the Eiffel Tower?
This is a series of arches forming a continuous arched covering.
What is a vault?
Early records of farming and hunting technology appeared in these prehistoric forms of artwork.
What are cave paintings?
This structural building component combines concrete with steel bars or mesh.
What is reinforced concrete?
This famous Greek structure was built to house a statue of Athena.
What is the Parthenon?
This was the earliest known Roman bridge and was constructed from wood using columns and beams.
What is Pons Sublicius?
The use of iron allowed engineers to create longer spans and these types of structures.
What are lighter structures?
When two vaults intersect, this type of vault is created.
What is a cross vault?
These Egyptian structures were built as monuments to house the tombs of pharaohs.
What are pyramids?
This material became cheaper and more readily available during the middle of the 18th century, allowing longer spans and lighter structures.
What is iron?
The Parthenon is an example of this construction system consisting of horizontal beams supported by vertical posts.
What is post-and-lintel construction?
Most ancient Roman bridges used this structural form as their basic structure.
What is the arch?
Steel frames made it possible to eliminate the need for massive versions of these structural components.
What are load-bearing walls?
This arrangement consists of several arches whose bases form a circle and whose tops meet at the center.
What is a dome?