Comparing Cultures:
Learning from the Past in The Ancient Americas
Fourth Stop:
Rulers and Citizens—BUILDINGS Throughout time and across cultures, people have built structures to shelter themselves from the elements. But buildings are so much more, from family gathering places, to sacred spaces built for worship, to places of business, to monuments of power—and
the decorative elements that enhance them. Buildings also reflect cultural ways of life and demonstrate the choices made about how resources are used.
Cross-Cultural Examples: Monumental architecture, such as the pyramids of ancient Egypt, symbolize the power of a small group of ruling elite over most of society. Constructing such prominent, elaborate structures requires vast amounts of natural resources and human labor. The cost of these building practices was severe, as many people endured hard labor and the limitations of the environment’s resources were ignored. Explore examples from other Field Museum collections to learn more. Carved Limestone Detail of Egyptian Pyramid Constructing Egyptian pyramids involved an immense amount of human labor and environmental resources, and the hand carved details that covered pyramid walls were no exception. Reliefs like those pictured here from the tomb of Unis-ankh required the work of apprentices, draftsmen, sculptors, and painters. (Inside Ancient Egypt exhibition) © 1981 The Field Museum, A108403_A_10c,
Description de l’Egypte Exteriors and interiors of ancient Egyptian pyramids were detailed in the Description de l’Egypte, commissioned by Napoleon in the early 1800s. Part of The Field Museum’s rare book collection, this multi-volume series of folios and engraved plates depicts the natural and cultural history of Egypt. © 2005 The Field Museum, GN90797_OFDE2_037_01d/ R.B Gen 1809.5
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Photographer Ron Testa/24450
Comparing Cultures:
Learning from the Past in The Ancient Americas
Rulers and Citizens—BUILDINGS
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Cross-Cultural Examples Domestic architecture also reflects a society’s structure and values, but at a smaller scale. Homes of every time and place reflect the local environment and the history and creativity of the people who made them. Here are some examples of how other cultures have developed sustainable ways of building homes. Tuareg Tent, Tuareg People, Northern Africa This home was made by the Tuareg people, nomads of the northern Sahara Desert. The Tuareg move from place to place with their herds of camels and goats and need a home that can move with them. Made of sewn animal skins or woven mats of goat hair structured with poles, Tuareg tents provide effective shelter in a hot, dry environment. (Africa exhibition) © 1993 The Field Museum,
Eskimo Snow and Sod House Diorama Underground homes like this one were built by native Alaskans from bricks of sod and grass. Sod homes had many built-in features to keep out the cold, including a tunnel that trapped frigid air and raised sleeping platforms around a central fire. (Northwest Coast and Arctic Peoples exhibition) © 1982 The Field Museum, A108759c, Photographer Ron Testa
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GN87085_47c, Photographer John Weinstein
Comparing Cultures: Learning from the Past in The Ancient Americas Rulers and Citizens—BUILDINGS
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Contemporary Illinois Examples: What would it take to go green with Illinois buildings? How can we rethink ways of using the resources we have to address contemporary issues, such as homelessness and foreclosure? Green Roofs Green roofs are part of the Chicago Climate Action Plan’s Energy Efficient Buildings strategy. Planting vegetation on top of buildings can reduce energy consumption by moderating roof temperatures to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Chicago has more green roofs built or under construction than any North American city. (Chicago Climate Action Plan, City of Chicago, 2008) © 2010 The Field Museum, ECCo
Green Home Design and Construction Architects are becoming more focused on designing and building green. This drawing by a Chicago architect highlights modern and traditional energy efficiency measures, such as a water conserving toilet, and traditional practices such as turning off lights when not in use and using exterior spaces to grow vegetables and hang clothes out to dry. Courtesy of Cooperative Design Works
Creative Reuse of Space No one wants abandoned buildings in their community, and the solution is usually to board them up or tear them down. In the late 1990s, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless turned an abandoned apartment building on Chicago’s South Side into 24 units of low-income housing for homeless women and children. This innovative approach built on existing resources to address pressing social concerns. Rehabbing a solidlybuilt structure created less waste and used fewer building materials than tearing the building down and starting from scratch. Removing the threat of an abandoned building also generally contributes to neighborhood safety, helping residents feel freer to engage in outdoor activities. © 2010 Google
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Reduce . Reuse . Recycle . Rethink . Relate
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