Ancient Civilizations: From Eastern Philosophy to Medieval Art

Eastern Philosophy and Shintoism

The first practical approach, led by Confucius, focused on the Five Classics and the maintenance of social responsibility. The second trend was mystical and metaphysical in nature. Before the arrival of Buddhism, the ancient Japanese religion was Shintoism, which taught that the world was ruled by the Sun God.

Medieval Russia: Culture and Art

The Huns were nomadic people originating from the area of Mongolia. The Byzantine influence shaped Russian religion, culture, and art, leading to the development of two major cultural centers: Kiev and Novgorod.

One of the greatest expressions of medieval Russian art was Andrei Rublev (1370–1430), whose masterpiece is The Old Testament Trinity. This era was significantly impacted by the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Minoan Civilization in Crete

• Primitive (Neolithic): Objects were crafted from obsidian stone.
• Early Minoan (3000–2000 BC): Pottery is distinguished by spiral decorations.
• Middle Minoan (2000–1600 BC): The distinct Camares pottery style emerged.
• Late Minoan (Glory days of Knossos): This period marked the beginning of naturalistic painting.

Ancient Greek Civilization

The Greek peninsula was divided into small city-states called Polis. The Greeks laid the foundations of Western history through their architectural and artistic contributions:

• Architectural Orders: The Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian styles, each featuring a base, shaft, and capital.
• Temple Design: The circular temple plan known as the Tholos.
• Chronology: Early (7th–6th century BC), Middle (5th–4th century BC), and Late (3rd century BC until the Roman merger).
• Painting Styles: Archaic, Classic, and Hellenistic.

Notably, Roman sculpture became highly revered, particularly for its mastery of the sculpture-portrait.

Early Christian, Byzantine, and Gothic Art

Early Christianity: The first artistic manifestations appeared in the catacombs, characterized by red and green lines depicting biblical passages.

Byzantine Art: The primary techniques were fresco and mosaic. While Rome used mosaics primarily for floors, Byzantium elevated them to decorate walls.

Gothic Art: Although the term was coined as a pejorative by Renaissance writer Giorgio Vasari, Gothic art represents the profound religious spirit of the Middle Ages.