Learning Journal unit 2
Department of Computer Science, University of the People
AHIST 1401 Art History
Dr. Priyadarshini Roy
November 24, 2025
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Solution
Response
Before beginning this course, my impressions of ancient Greece and Rome were fairly surfacelevel. I associated Greece mostly with philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, along with images
of white marble temples on hilltops. Rome, to me, symbolized military strength, engineering
achievements like aqueducts, and the grandeur of the Colosseum. While these ideas were not
entirely incorrect, they were incomplete. I viewed both civilizations primarily as distant historical
powers rather than cultures whose artistic and architectural achievements shaped fundamental
aspects of Western thought and aesthetics.
Studying their art and architecture transformed these initial impressions by revealing the
complexity, intentionality, and cultural meaning behind their creations. The course readings
emphasized how Greek art strove for idealized beauty, rational balance, and human-centered design
(Kleiner, 2016). I had previously seen Greek sculptures as simply “beautiful” without
understanding how deeply they reflected philosophical beliefs about proportion, harmony, and the
human body. Learning about the development from the Archaic kouroi to the Classical style—
especially the shift toward naturalistic anatomy and dynamic poses—showed me how committed
Greek artists were to capturing both physical perfection and human experience (Stokstad &
Cothren, 2018).
Roman art and architecture similarly challenged my earlier assumptions. I knew Rome borrowed
from Greece, but I underestimated the extent of Roman innovation. The readings highlighted how
the Romans adopted Greek aesthetics while advancing engineering through concrete, the arch, and
large-scale urban design (Kleiner, 2016). Understanding the social and political purposes of Roman
monuments helped me see Rome not just as a conquering empire, but as a culture that used art to
express identity, legitimacy, and civic pride. For example, I had always seen the Colosseum as an
entertainment arena, but studying its structural design and social function revealed its symbolic role
in demonstrating imperial power and public generosity.
Several specific works fundamentally reshaped my thinking. The Parthenon, for instance,
demonstrated how Greek architects subtly manipulated proportions and optical refinements—such
as curvature of the stylobate and entasis of the columns—to achieve visual perfection (Hollinshead,
1999). These details made me appreciate the extraordinary technical knowledge and aesthetic
sensitivity behind structures that often appear simple at a glance.
Similarly, Roman portraiture, especially veristic Republican portraits, changed my perception of
Roman values. The hyper-realistic features emphasizing age and experience conveyed cultural
ideals about wisdom, service, and family lineage (Stokstad & Cothren, 2018). This helped me
understand Rome on a more human level, beyond its political history.
Overall, studying the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome broadened my understanding
of these cultures as innovative, thoughtful, and deeply expressive societies. Their monuments and
artworks reveal not just technical skill, but worldviews centered on human potential, civic
responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence—ideas that continue to influence contemporary
culture.
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References
Hollinshead, M. (1999). Optical refinements in Greek architecture. American Journal of
Archaeology, 103(2), 175–190.
Kleiner, F. S. (2016). Gardner’s art through the ages: The Western perspective (15th ed.). Cengage
Learning.
Stokstad, M., & Cothren, M. W. (2018). Art history (6th ed.). Pearson.
If you want, I can adapt this to a shorter or longer length, change the tone, or align it even more
closely with your course readings.