Lesson Plan II—Architecture
The following lesson compares the architecture of Brunelleschi’s Cupola in Florence, the shrine of Huitzilopochtli (the sun good) in Tenochtitlan and the Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu. The following books contain examples of the three structures:
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1) “Grand Constructions” by Gian Paolo Ceserani and Piero Ventura—Brunelleschi’s Cupola and the shrine of Huitzilopochtli
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2) “Crusaders. Aztecs. Samurai” by Dr. Anne Millard—the shrine of Huitzilopochtli and the skyline of Timbuktu
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3) “A History of West Africa 1000-1800” by Basil Davidson—the Sankore Mosque.
I have also included sketches of these three structures as part of this lesson.
Students should be shown each structure and discuss what each is made of. For example, the cupola is made of stone and wood with wooden beams that are reinforced with iron. The other two structures are made of clay and stone. The shape of each structure should be examined and compared. Students can be asked to discuss how the climate and topography of each area might have influenced what these buildings looked like and of what they were made? Also, why might the shapes of the African and Central American structures, as well as the building materials be more similar to each other than to Florence? Grand Constructions presents additional information about the cupola and shrine which can be shared with students and information about Brunelleschi and the building of the cupola can be found in Brucker’s “Florence The Golden Age 1138-1737.”
There are many possible activities that can be assigned as part of this lesson. One would be to have small groups of students make models of the different structures or even perhaps a model of the centers of Timbuktu or Tenochtitlan. Students could be asked to do further independent research into the life and accomplishments of Pilippo Brunelleschi and present information and sketches of his work to the class in oral presentations. The same kind of independent research project could be done with other buildings (homes, palaces, other temples or mosques) in any of the three cities and presented to the class in the same manner. Students might be asked to write a short essay comparing the New Haven green and its surrounding buildings to the centers of the three cities. Are there any similarities in purpose that can be seen? How are the purposes different?