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Construction Through The Ages
From mud huts to megalithic stones to skyscrapers, construction methods have evolved over time. This timeline explores the major turning points that led to the current state of affairs.
Structures existed before there were people. No single blog could adequately explain the history of architecture, but we can examine the major turning points that led to the current state of affairs.
Construction history is difficult to trace because there is no clear definition of the term. To protect themselves from their surroundings, people have always changed their environment. People usually began with simple windbreaks or lean-tos, using stone and animal bones for tools, along with grass, mud, and animal skins as raw materials.
Construction Timeline
1.8 Million Years Ago
Oldest Known Construction
Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge contains what may be the earliest traces of purposeful construction. Researchers discovered a stone circle that appears to have been built to resemble a hunter-gatherer settlement.
Simply put, Olduvai Gorge was constructed before people like us existed.
400,000 BC
First Huts
Many historians agree that the first hut was constructed in Terra Amata, France. Early humans used temporary huts to provide a safe place to stay while hunting.
4000 BC
Mesopotamian Innovations
According to experts, the oldest structures built by humans are in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamians built ziggurats, temples, and palaces by precisely laying bricks.
The roads of Mesopotamia are among the earliest indications that people lived there. Researchers discovered evidence that trade routes between Ur and Babylon were laid down around this time.
2650–2600 BC
First Known Architect
Most people agree that Imhotep was the first builder and engineer. Ancient civilizations' pyramids, temples, and palaces continue to astound and inspire us.
Roman Era
Road Networks
The Romans built a road network that stretched from Syria to Britain, a distance of 50,000 miles. With their vast empire, the Romans desired as many straight roads as possible to connect cities.
Building Technology Advancements
1600s: Modern Construction
The construction industry as we know it today began to develop in the 1600s. Engineers, architects, material coordination, and building codes were all required for these projects.
Engineering and architecture evolved into distinct and specialized fields of study. The majority of people believe Andrea Palladio was the first architect to use modern techniques.
Industrial Revolution
During the 17th and 18th centuries, science and architecture both advanced. Engineers and architects began using a wider variety of shapes and materials thanks to advances in science.
Abraham Darby's iron-smelting method in 1709 enabled mass production of cast iron, spawning a slew of new ideas and construction techniques.
The Age of Skyscrapers
The Home Insurance Building in Chicago was the world's first tall structure. The building's height increased from 10 to 12 stories in 1890.
Many tall buildings appeared in Chicago and New York at the turn of the twentieth century. Building companies competed to outdo each other during the "first great age" of skyscrapers.
Modern Construction Era
Megaprojects
The 20th century saw the emergence of megaprojects:
- The Panama Canal (1914) - Cost more than any other building project in history when completed
- Interstate Highway System (1956) - One of the most important infrastructure projects of the 20th century
- Channel Tunnel (1994) - Features two train tunnels and one service tunnel
- Three Gorges Dam - The world's largest hydroelectric power plant
There are more megaprojects in the twenty-first century, which are large, complicated projects that promise to benefit local communities.
Building for the Future
The construction industry has become more conscious of how it affects the environment. More people are becoming aware of climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and the impact of humans on natural habitats.
The industry will be better able to deal with issues such as sustainability if it adopts digital technology. During the pandemic, construction companies had to increase productivity, reduce risk, and make data-driven decisions.
Connected construction is used by companies that are looking to the future. Project teams can collaborate and share information to solve current and future problems and to write the next chapter of construction.
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