INTRODUCTION, 1 I.—CELTIC OR DRUIDICAL REMAINS, 5 II.—THE MONUMENTS OF EGYPT, 10 III.—ASIATIC ARCHITECTURE, 30 IV.—GREECE, 52 V.—ETRURIA AND ROME, 68 VI.—THE EARLY CHRISTIAN STYLE, 88 VII.—THE BYZANTINE STYLE, 95 VIII.—MAHOMETAN ARCHITECTURE, 105 IX.—THE ROMANESQUE STYLE, 115 X.—GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE, 132 XI.—THE RENAISSANCE, 151 XII.—CONCLUSION, 162 A SHORT HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE. INTRODUCTION. Architecture is an art combining the qualities of utility and beauty. Its object is, and has been from its origin, to satisfy both the necessities and tastes of the various building races. For this purpose the two distinct, and yet closely related, sciences of construction and decoration have been employed, and the history of the progress which has been made in each, goes hand in hand with the history of each age and each race. The requirements of the inhabitants of every country have always been defined by its character and climate, and, in order to satisfy these requirements, the art has adapted itself to them and grown up and expanded in the different fields in which it has been directed. It is customary to explain the origin of the art of building somewhat as follows: The first impulse of the barbarian, in whatever part of the globe he may be born, is to seek a shelter from the varying temperature of night and day. If he lives in the mountains, he chooses the caves and clefts in the rocks for his habitation; if on the plain, he follows the example of the animals and hollows out a retreat in the ground where he may seek warmth and protection. Where the soil is rocky, he gathers branches and moss, and piles them in such a manner as to form a rude dwelling. Soon after, he perceives the inconvenience of these untrimmed boughs, and remedies the discomfort by driving four straight posts into the ground, and roofing them over with cross-pieces, inclined so as to shed the rain. This is the first semblance of a thoughtful construction, and the improvements upon it gradually develop into the more studied forms of architecture.