Architecture is a witness to history and a carrier of culture. Since ancient times, people around the world have been building buildings to meet the needs of life, religion, politics, etc. These historical buildings not only show the architectural skills, aesthetic concepts and social features of the time, but also have a profound impact on later generations. In this paper, we will select representative historical buildings at home and abroad, and elaborate on the construction time, manpower and material resources, and their impact on future generations and presents.
1. Ancient Chinese architecture
Old Summer Palace
Located in Haidian District, Beijing, China, the Old Summer Palace is a Qing Dynasty imperial garden, which was built in the Kangxi period and was roughly completed in the early years of Xianfeng, lasting about 150 years. The Old Summer Palace covers an area of about 350 hectares, with a construction area of about 200,000 square meters, and consists of three gardens: the Old Summer Palace, the Changchun Garden and the Qichun Garden. The architectural styles in the park are diverse, including palaces, pavilions, pavilions, pavilions, etc., which integrate the characteristics of Chinese and Western architecture. The Old Summer Palace cost a lot of manpower and material resources, and it is estimated that the cost of building the Old Summer Palace was more than twice the annual revenue of the Qing Dynasty treasury at that time.
The influence of the Old Summer Palace on later generations is mainly reflected in the cultural heritage. The Old Summer Palace is known as a “model of garden architecture”, and its exquisite architecture and rich cultural heritage attract countless tourists. Although the Old Summer Palace was destroyed during the British and French invasion in 1860, its ruins are still a precious treasure of cultural heritage in China and the world. Now, the Old Summer Palace is undergoing large-scale restoration work in the hope of restoring it to its former glory.
Qin and Han architecture
During the Qin and Han dynasties, China entered the era of feudal empires. Although the Qin Dynasty existed for a short time, its magnificent architecture had a profound impact on later generations. On this basis, the architecture of the Han Dynasty was comprehensively developed. The main buildings of the Qin and Han dynasties include Afang Palace, Xianyang Palace, Chang’an City, etc. These constructions cost a huge amount of manpower and material resources, such as the Afang Palace, which used 700,000 laborers.
The influence of Qin and Han architecture on later generations is mainly reflected in architectural style and engineering technology. The architecture of the Qin and Han dynasties laid the foundation for the basic style of architecture in the feudal era of China, such as the shape of the roof and the layout of the structure. At the same time, the construction engineering technology of the Qin and Han dynasties was also inherited and developed by later generations.
2. Foreign Historical Buildings
Colosseum
Located in Rome, Italy, the Colosseum is a landmark of the ancient Roman period, which was built in 72 AD and took 8 years to complete. The Colosseum was originally known as the Flavi Amphitheater and was mainly used for entertainment such as beast fights and gladiatorial fights. The Colosseum has a floor area of about 20,000 square meters and can accommodate about 80,000 spectators. The construction of the Colosseum cost about 100,000 laborers and about 800 million sestes (the ancient Roman monetary unit).
The influence of the Colosseum on later generations is mainly reflected in the cultural heritage. It is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is a symbol of ancient Roman civilization. The Colosseum has been attracting visitors from all over the world since it was built. Today, the Colosseum is a museum that attracts millions of visitors every year.
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is an architectural style that flourished at the peak and end of the Middle Ages, originating in France and lasting until the 16th century. Features of Gothic architecture include pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying arches. The influence of Gothic architecture on later generations is mainly reflected in the architectural style and art. It was inherited by Renaissance architecture and had an influence on modern architecture. For example, Notre Dame Cathedral in France and Westminster Abbey in United Kingdom are outstanding representatives of Gothic architecture.
Historical buildings are important carriers of cultural inheritance around the world, and they show the architectural skills, aesthetic concepts and social features of the time. Whether it is the Old Summer Palace, Qin and Han Dynasty buildings in China, or the Colosseum and Gothic architecture in foreign countries, they all cost huge manpower and material resources and have had a profound impact on later generations. These historic buildings are now cultural heritage sites around the world and attract countless tourists. At the same time, they also provide valuable material materials for us to study history and inherit culture.
In modern society, it is of great significance to preserve old historical buildings. We should strengthen the protection and restoration of old historical buildings, so that more people can understand and appreciate these precious cultural heritages. At the same time, we can also draw inspiration from these historical buildings, use modern architectural techniques, innovate architectural styles, and contribute to the development of human architecture.
