There was no chimney, no windows, and the walls were either "adobe" (dried mud bricks), "wattle and daub" (wooden strips weaved together, coated in cheapo plaster), or (if you were lucky) stone-or a mix: adobe bricks on stone foundations. The roofs were made of grass or thatch, and sometimes covered with metal.
They weren't very comfortable living quarters. The temperature inside an Aztec house usually rose during the day because the sun heated the ground underneath. So houses were usually built near a source of water, since people could use it as a form of air conditioning at night.
The Aztecs lived in towns and cities. These cities were often located near natural resources such as gold or silver mines. This is why most city-states were located in what we call "the Americas": Mexico, Central America, South America.
However, some cities were also founded by the Aztecs themselves: Mexicuajete, Xochimilco, Cuernavaca. These cities were mainly located within the present-day state of Mexico and were meant to serve as capitals for their own kingdoms.
Even though they were ruled by monarchs, the actual power belonged to the leaders of the city-states. They would appoint someone called a "governor" who would then make decisions on their behalf.
Many of these houses were "wattle and daub." They had wooden frames with sticks filling in the gaps. After that, the holes were filled with a sticky "daub" consisting of clay, dirt, and grass. The roof was mainly built of dried indigenous grasses and tufted. There were also some shingles used for the more wealthy settlers.
There are many theories on why the first colonists built their homes out of wood. Some say it was because of lack of tools or knowledge about building materials that they could find in America at the time. But probably the most popular theory is that it was because the colonies wanted to be self-sufficient and avoid paying taxes to England. By building their own houses they could claim part of England as their own country instead of just land that someone else owned.
Here is how one house in Virginia looked after the war started to tear down its walls: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/franklinpapers/v3p1-ca042
Franklin also wrote about other types of buildings in Jamestown. He said there were "barracks for soldiers," "storehouses for supplies," and "farms where crops could be grown for food."
He also mentioned using wood as a source of energy.
The majority of dwellings featured a wooden frame, a towering chimney, a steep roof, and an enclosed fireplace within. Wattle and daub—wood strips or sticks coated with clay—was used to make the walls between the timber frame, and the exterior walls were usually whitewashed. Thatched roofs were common on Tudor dwellings. The thatch was made from the leaves and shoots of certain plants grown specifically for this purpose.
Tudor houses were very economical to build and easy to heat. They often have three rooms: a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. There's also a service area at the back which includes a pantry, laundry room, and sometimes a smokehouse for meat preservation. A bathroom might be located outside, in a separate building called a "porch."
Rich people built larger homes than poor people because they could afford better materials and workers. A large house would have many rooms because many people needed food and shelter. Rich people also built taller houses because they wanted more space upstairs/outdoors. Houses in London were often built over several stories with apartments inside them. These were called "lodgings" if they belonged to one person or "tenements" if they were rented out.
People worked long hours for low wages so they needed accommodation that was comfortable and affordable to rent. Two rooms and a kitchenette were usually enough space for a single person.
Fieldstones or semi-worked stone blocks and soil put in mortar were used to construct Inca structures; adobe walls were also frequent, generally built over stone foundations. The Incas decorated their buildings with bright colors and patterns. They used awnings to shade parts of the building during hot seasons and for decoration. Also, trees were planted inside the buildings for additional shade and beauty.
An Inca temple was usually located near a settlement, on high ground where it could be seen by all who traveled along the road system the Incas constructed. These important sites often included an altar where sacrifices were made and a throne where the ruler would sit when he or she had time to visit one of their many other temples.
Inca architecture is unique because it is based on geometry rather than brick or stone masonry. The Incas used stones balanced on edge to create walls and floors that were pleasing to the eye. Windows were often small openings cut into the wall of a building or large stone slabs that could be moved to allow light into a room. The Incas believed that windows should only be opened during the day because at night everything was fine and there was no need to waste energy by using artificial light.
The Incas constructed many roads across their empire, helping travelers get from place to place more quickly and easily.
Concrete was used to make the foundations, walls, and vaults. The concrete walls were all faced with either brick or stone. The bricks or stones were chosen by the owner to show off their wealth.
Brick is the material that makes up most of the remains found at ancient sites, because it's very easy to work with and not too expensive. A single wall from a Roman house would often include both red and white bricks to provide color and contrast. The bricks were usually about the size of a handball, which is why old buildings tend to look so blocky today. Inside the houses, walls were covered in frescoes or painted pictures.
Stone is more durable than brick and also tends to be larger-grained, which means it has more character. It can be used in its natural form or dressed up with paint and other materials like wood or plaster. Sometimes whole rooms will be built out of one solid piece of stone. Ancient houses built of stone are much rarer than those built of brick, because once you get past a first floor, there's no need for additional strength or insulation. These properties must have been taken into account when planning a building project.
The walls of a Roman house were always inside the house, except for the roof which was outside.
Homes were constructed using mud and straw bricks. Molds for making bricks were devised by the Ancient Egyptians. However, most bricks were sun-dried. Some huge residences were made of stone, but the majority of dwellings, rich and poor alike, were built of brick. The walls usually consisted of a base course of large stones or brick, with a layer of rubble and soil above that. The roof was typically made of wood, although some more modern examples have been built with asphalt or concrete.
Modern architects have taken inspiration from the ancient Egyptians when designing houses today. They often use similar materials such as mud bricks or stone to create their buildings. In addition, it is not uncommon for houses to be stacked one on top of another or even enclosed in ground walls during construction.
The typical Egyptian house had three rooms: a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. There might also be a fourth room, which could be used for storage. A bathroom would have been a luxury. Houses were generally between 1-3 stories high, depending on the wealth of its owner. On average, an Egyptian mansion was built around 50 meters long and 25 meters wide.
House sizes varied significantly depending on the family who lived in them. Smaller houses were used by single people or families with small children. As you ascended the social ladder, so did your home. Large houses contained multiple rooms, including space for receiving guests.
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