The Beginning of Architecture:

Architecture started in Nile valley for the very first time, while second centre of architecture was discovered in valley of
Euphrates and Tigris. Ancient architecture had two main functions to consolidate power and security and to amuse the
Gods. The wealthier the society, the more essential these functions became.

The Greeks and the Romans:

The art of Euphrates and Tigris blended in art of Greek, though Greek architecture has a very strong origin itself. The
Greeks evolve cement in about 200 BC as a building material, in place of such weaker mortars as gypsum plaster or
bitumen. The main secret of the newly acquired material was the lime which binds clay, sand and water. A series of
aesthetically pleasing architectures came up in the early 15th century in Italy. In the 16th century the Romans developed
a base for construction and decoration and from them it spread to the rest of the world.

The Romans used finely ground volcanic lava instead of clay, deriving it mostly from Pozzuoli region. Their cement,
popularly known as pozzolanic, was the strongest mortar at that time. When it was blended with small fragments of
volcanic rubble, the result was extremely concrete. The Romans set out the principles of their crafts in ten volumes that
dealt with all aspects, from the general principles to materials, to stucco work, aqueducts, painting, and machinery. This
treatise is one of the most, if not the most influential material in the history of architecture.

The Romans Greatest Achievements:

The greatest accomplishments of the Roman architecture lie in the development of the dome, the arch, and the vault.
The dome has for years been a familiar concept, but it has not been widely used. The arch has greater capabilities as
compared to the lintel, because it can combine a number of smaller units to make a greater whole. The vault is only a
remarkably deep arch. The dome is actually a collection of arches all sharing one centre. The Roman achievement in all
the forms was aided by their improvement of concrete.