PREHISTORIC ART HISTORY Name________________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Prehistoric Art. You will need to read the description and
answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to copy the image
onto the grid into the correct box locations.
Prehistoric Art Era
Pictures have been telling stories for far longer than written language. We cannot be completely sure
of the purpose of prehistoric art because there is no written record to tell us. However, it is though
that the earliest artworks were perhaps part of a religious ritual. Prehistoric art was made throughout
the world at different times.
Cave Art
No one knows when the first paintings were made. The oldest found to date were made about 40,000
years ago in Indonesia, and about 30,000 ago in Europe and Australia. They were painted on rocks
inside caves. Experts think it is likely that there is more prehistoric art in the world, but that it has not
yet been found.
Hand Paintings
The earliest rock drawings are called petrograms (which means rock art). Some were made by
blowing charcoal through a hollow bones over hands that were pressed against cave walls. Others
were made by people putting their hands in charcoal and then pressing them on the walls. The hand
prints left behind by prehistoric artists show that many of them were women.
Painting and Drawing Materials
Prehistoric artists used materials they found around them. They applied color with sticks, stones,
bones, and their own fingers. Black was made from charcoal, white from chalk, brown from different
types of earth, and red by adding blood. These were crushed into powder and used either dry or
mixed with water or animal fat.
In the Dark
Some of the most famous prehistoric paintings have been found in southwestern France and northern
Spain, deep inside caves where few people would have seen them. This suggests that they were not
made for everyday enjoyment. Rather, it is likely that they were used as a part of religious ceremony
to bring success in hunting.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Prehistoric Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Lascaux Cave Paintings-copy the pictrographs onto the grid
ANCIENT EGYTIAN ART HISTORY Name____________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Ancient Egyptian Art. You will need to read the
description and answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to
copy the image onto the grid into the correct box locations.
Ancient Egyptian Art Era
About 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians began creating their own distinctive style of art and of the next
3,000 years, their art hardly changed at all. Most ancient Egyptians art was connected to the
Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife. Art was made to provide instructions to the gods so that they could
look after the dead.
The Book of the Dead
In ancient Egypt, important people were buried with wall paintings and statues that celebrated their
afterlife. From about 1550 BCE they were also laid to rest with papyrus scrolls featuring pictures
inscribed with spells that helped them navigate their way to land of the dead. One type of these
scrolls is known as the Book of the Dead.
Artistic Training
Artists began their training at the age of nine, and had to follow strict rules. They drew every feature
from the angle that best displayed it, so chests and eyes were shown from the front, but head, legs,
feet, and arms from the side. Everything was painted to look flat.
The Afterlife
The afterlife was believed to be a continuation of life on Earth, reached after a dead person had been
judged in a place called the Hall of Truth. Paintings were included in tombs to inform the gods how
the dead people had lived so that they could carry on these lifestyles in the afterlife. The painting
might show the dead person at work or playing one of their favorite games.
Planning a Painting
Egyptian wall painting were made following careful plans. First the wall was smoothed with white
plaster. Then a grid was drawn using string dipped in red paint. Copying from a small picture on
papyrus, artists drew the scene following the grid lines and used reed pens or small brushes for the
hieroglyphs. The outlines were then colored in from a palette of different pigments.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Ancient Egyptian Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun gold burial mask from the 18th-dynasty
ANCIENT GREEK ART HISTORY Name____________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Ancient Greek Art. You will need to read the description
and answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to copy the
image onto the grid into the correct box locations.
Ancient Greek Art Era
The ancient Greeks highly valued paintings. Early Greek art was flat looking, mainly featuring symbols
and patterns. Later, artists sought to create art that was more lifelike and in beautifully balanced
proportions. Ancient Greek Art is divided by art historians into four stylistic periods: Geometric,
Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic.
Geometric Period
The earliest stylistic period was the Geometric Period, which lasted from about 1100 to 800 BCE It
began in Athens and spread throughout the cities of the Aegean Sea. The art of this time featured
patterns using straight lines and simple shapes. However, by the end of the Geometric Period, the
designs had become more intricate and figures of people and animals were more common.
Archaic Period
The Archaic Period, which was 800-480 BCE, is when artists followed set rules. They painted flat-
looking pictures on their pottery using a mixture of clay, water, and wood ash, and left the
background bare. When the clay was fired, the pictures and patterns turned black, but the
background stayed red. This was called black figure pottery. The ancient Greek often told stories of
their gods and goddesses and put pictures of them on their pottery.
Classical Period
The Classical Period was around 480-323 BCE This style brought on Greek art that became more
natural looking. Images were still simple and only painted in brown paint, but it was lifelike and could
be easily understood.
Hellenistic Period
The Hellenistic period in Greek art was 323-100BCE. Artists further developed their greater mosaic
making skills. At first, Greek mosaics were only made to cover floors, but later they were made on
walls as well. Following drawn plans, the artist cut stones into tiny squares, and then stuck them into
a mixture of lime and sand.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Ancient Greek Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Ancient Greek Black Figure Amphora-copy the amphora onto the grid
ANCIENT ROMAN ART HISTORY Name____________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Ancient Roman Art. You will need to read the description
and answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to copy the
image onto the grid into the correct box locations.
Ancient Roman Art Era
Although only a small number of Roman panel paintings have been found, many mosaics survive.
Several Roman frescoes were preserved under the ash when the volcano Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE,
covering the nearby city of Pompeii, Italy. They show that Roman artists enjoyed creating realistic-
looking scenes of the world around them.
Portrait Painting
By the 1st century CE, the Roman Empire extended into Egypt. In Fayum, realistic-looking portraits of
the dead were painted on wooden boards that were attached to their coffins. Many of these
remarkably realistic paintings have survived, and they suggest that other Roman paintings form that
time may have been just as life like.
Landscape Painting
Romans were the first western artists to develop landscape paintings, using their own form of
perspective and shading to make things look realistic. Some landscapes were gardens with flowers,
birds, trees, while others depicted farms and animals. Sometimes they featured buildings that look
like they are three-dimensional, with painted to seem as if they were views seen through a window,
rather than paintings.
Roman Sculpture
Roman sculptures sought the perfection of Greek art, but the Roman sculptors added even more
realism. The sculptures were made to honor the most important figures in society. These were often
displayed in public places. Statues were also made depicting noble warriors, athletes, or mythical
figures. Sculptors prided themselves on producing perfectly proportioned figures. For their finest
sculptures, Roman artists used bronze and marble. In Roman sculptures, emotions were quite visible
whether the artist was trying to display pain or love.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Ancient Roman Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Ancient Roman Colossuem used for gladiator contests, sea battles, and theater
ANCIENT ASIAN ART HISTORY Name______________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Ancient Asian Art. You will need to read the description
and answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to copy the
image onto the grid into the correct box locations.
Ancient Asian Art Era
Across the vast continent of Asia, art was influenced by a wide range of religious beliefs and mythical
traditional. These ideas were expressed by local artists in various styles, depicting their stories and
myths. In China and India, many great works of art were inspired by the Buddist religion.
Chinese Golden Age
The Tang dynasty ruled over the Chinese Empire between 618-906 CE. Tradem Literature, and art
flourished during this period, which is often descibed as China’s “Golden Age”. Calligraphy (decorative
handwriting) expressed Buddist and Taoist beliefs, while painters captured the rich splendor of court life.
Painting Emotions
Durin the Tang Dynasty, landscape painting became extremly popular in China, where landscapes
were seen as the highest form of artistic achievement. Artists did not create realistic views, as they
were more interested in conveying emotion or atmosphere. They achieved this by painting with
delicate brushstrokes that resembled calligraphy.
Fine Technique
Tang artists painted with inks and watercolors on paper or silk. Usually, they outlined their pictures
with fine black lines first, then filled them with color. They held their brushes vertically, painting with
the tip of the brush to create flowing lines.
Terra-Cotta Army
In 1974, more than 6,000 life-sized terra-cotta warriors were discovered by accident in a pit in
northwestern China. They were buried with the first emperor of China in 210-209BCE, to guard his
tomb and protect him in the afterlife. Every warrior has individual facial features.
Buddist Caves
India is a vast country with diverse local traditions and beliefs, ans many different stylesa of art have
developed there. Some of the finiest examples of early Indian art are found in the Ajanta caves. They
were created between 200BCE and 650CE, these include roack cravings and murls that celebrate the
Buddist religion.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Ancient Asian Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________________
Ancient Chinese Terra-Cotta Warrior-copy the warrior onto the grid
EARLY ISLAMIC ART HISTORY Name____________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Early Islamic Art. You will need to read the description
and answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to copy the
image onto the grid into the correct box locations.
Early Islamic Art
Te religion of Islam was established in Medina (Saudia Arabia) by the prophet Muhammad in 622CE.
Through the seventh century, the faith spread to Asia, Africa, and Europe. Various artistic influences,
from early Persian to Christian art, merged to create a distinct Islamic artistic style.
Beautiful Patterns
Magaficent mosaics were created to decorate mosques and other religious buildings. Islamic art is
different from most Western and Asian art, as it rarely shows people or toher living creatures.
Instead, it often features calligraphy and geometric or floral patterns.
Major Development
Great advances in art, architectures, science, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy were made in
the area where the Islamic faith was first practice, from North America in the west to the Persian Gulf
in the east. Art was oftwen religious, but non-religious art, such as enameled glass and patterned
carpets, was also highly valued in Islamic socities.
Early Mosque
The Dome of the rock is a mosque on Temple Mount in Jeruselum. It was complete in 691CE. Ornate
and glittering, it is embellished with brightly colored mosiac tiles in intricate repeating patterns.
Mosques such as this were decorated to encourage worshippers to think about life and the greatness
of creation.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Early Islamic Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Early Islamic Tile Designs-Copy the pattern onto the grid
ANCIENT PRE-COLUMBIAN ART HISTORY Name_____________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Ancient Pre-Columbian Art. You will need to read the
description and answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to
create your own Aztec Sun God Medallion.
Ancient Pre-Columbian Art
The art, architecture, and crafts made by the native people of North, Central, South America, and the
Caribbean island during 13,000BCE-1500CE is called Pre-Columbian Art. This is before Christopher
Columbus sailed to the Americas. Mesoamerica (Central America) is where the Mayan, Aztec, Incan,
Toltec, and Olmecs lived.
Pre-classic
This era was dominated by the Olmec civilization, which flourished about 1200-400 BCE. The Olmecs
created jade figurines, and carved colossal heads up to 8 feet high. The Central American tradition of
constructing huge ceremonial complexes began with the Olmecs.
Classic
This period was dominated by the Mayan in 200-900CE. Mayans lived in large, agricultural
settlements, practicing their own type of hieroglyphic writing as well as advanced astronomy. Mayan
art is mainly characterized by petroglyphs, a variety of rock art, some stone sculpture and wood-
carving, as well as mural paintings.
Post-classic
This period was between 900-1300CE It was dominated first by the Toltec civilization from the
western region who carved massive, block-like sculptures like those used as free-standing columns at
Tula, Mexico. The Aztec culture of central and southern Mexico produced a variety of visual art,
including: brightly colored fresco painting, masks, ceremonial costumes, bracelets and necklaces, as
well as a range of clay, stone and wood sculpture. Aztec mosaic art was frequently used to decorate
masks as well as architecture.
Ceremonial Architecture
Large ceremonial building were built in the center of cities. The building style they used was creating
a step pyramids out of broad square stones. Some of the most famous temples are
Teotihuacan: Pyramid Of The Moon, Coba: Nohoch Mul Pyramid, Calakmul: The Great Pyramid, El
Tajín: Pyramid Of The Niches, Uxmal: Pyramid Of The Magician, Teotihuacan: Pyramid Of The Sun,
Chichen Itza: The Temple Of Kukulkan, Palenque: Pyramids Of The Inscriptions, Coba: La Iglesia
and El Castillo, and La Venta: Great Pyramid Of La Venta.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Ancient Pre-Columbian Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Aztec Sun God Medallion-Design your own in the space below with a face in the cental and patterns in the circle layers
MEDIEVAL ART ERA HISTORY Name_______________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Medieval Art. You will need to read the description and
answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to copy the Celtic
knot into the box into and create your own gothic window design.
Medieval Art Era
The medieval period of art history spans from the fall of the Roman Empire in 300 CE to the beginning
of the Renaissance in 1400 CE. This era has many artistic styles. These include Christian, Byzantine,
Viking, Gothic, and many more. Early medieval art shared some specific characteristic. These art
piece included iconography, Christian subject matter, elaborate patterns and decoration, bright colors,
the use of precious metals, gems, and other luxurious materials, stylized figures, and social status.
Christian
Christianity grew from a small sect into a popular religion during the three centuries after the death of
Jesus. At first, the Romans banned the religion, so Christians met secretly in tunnels and tombs belwo
ground, known as the catacombs. On the tomb walls, they painted scenes from the bible. Later, it
became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and Christian Art flourished in the open.
Byzantine
Byzantine artistic styles spread across Europe, from Spain in the west to Russia in the east.
Illuminated manuscripts of holy texts were made, but most churchgoers were illiterate, so large
frescoes and mosaics were created for the new churches to inform people about the bible through art.
Viking
Viking Age almost exclusively made applied art in 790 CE-1100 CE. These are everyday objects that
were jazzed up to make them more pleasing to look at. The painted art would often be made to
depict Norse (Viking) mythology. Vikings loved elaborate decorations and they decorated many of the
things they used: weapons, jewelry, rune stones, ship woodwork and even their common, everyday
items.
Gothic
From the 12th century, great churches and cathedrals were built across Europe. Artists decorated then
with brightly colored paintings, often featuring slightly elongated, elegant figures and intricate details.
Lavish illustrations for illuminated manuscripts were also made.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Medevial Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Viking Celtic Knot Design-Try and coping the pattern in the box below
Gothic Rose Stained Glass Window-create your own gothic window pattern. Remember the
pattern should repeat around the circle
AFRICAN ART HISTORY Name_____________________________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through African Art. You will need to read the description and
answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to draw your own
African mask using the reference images provided.
African Art
Africa is a large and diverse continent. Its history is filled with the rise and fall of numerous civilizations and
empires. As a result, the art of Ancient Africa is varied and diverse. However, there are some common
themes throughout much of African art that we will discuss on this page.
Regions
Ancient African art can be somewhat divided into regions. The art of northern Africa was heavily influenced
by the Arabs after the Islam conquest. Similarly, the art of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa was influenced
by Europe and Christianity. There is also the well preserved art of Ancient Egypt found in temples and
burial chambers. However, what most people think of today as African art is the art produced by the
peoples living south of the Sahara Desert.
Materials
The art of Ancient Africa was produced using a wide variety of materials. Unfortunately, a lot of African art
was produced using wood, which has since been destroyed by time and the elements. Other materials,
such as metals (like bronze and iron), ceramics, and ivory have survived.
Three Dimensions
One of the main elements of African art is that it is often created in three-dimensions rather than two-
dimensions. For example, they used sculpture more often than flat paintings. Here are some of the primary
types of art used in Ancient Africa.
Sculpture - Sculpture was one of the most important types of art in Ancient Africa. Sculptures were mostly
made of people and sometimes animals. African artists often used wood for their sculpture, but they also
used bronze, terracotta, and ivory.
Masks - Masks were an important part of art. They were often used together with dance to create a type of
performance art. Masks were generally made of wood, but were often decorated with ivory, gems, paint,
and animal fur.
Jewelry- Many Ancient African civilizations created jewelry from gold, gems, shells, and other materials.
Jewelry was an important part of showing one's status and wealth.
Pottery - Ceramics were used for everyday items like bowls and cooking pots. However, some ceramics
were works of art that were shaped and painted with fine details.
Human Form
One of the main themes in the art of Ancient Africa is the human form. The primary subject in the majority
of the art is people. Sometimes people were shown with animals or as part animal, part person. Many
times the representation of people wasn't natural, but was more abstract with certain features exaggerated
while others were entirely left out.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Medevial Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
African Mask-Create your own African masks using the examples below. You will need to
draw it to fill up the box to receive complete credit. Remember that masks have
symmetrical balance so you will need to try to have the left look the right.
Draw your African Mask here
POLYNESIAN/OCEANIC ART HISTORY Name_______________________________ Period_____
Directions: You will be taking a trip through Polynesian/Oceanic Art. You will need to read the
description and answer the questions. After, there will be an art assignment where you will need to
draw your own African mask using the reference images provided.
Polynesian/Oceanic Culture
Polynesia is a group of islands located within the Polynesian Triangle, on the continent of Oceania.
Polynesia is one among three major cultural areas in the Pacific Ocean, aside from Micronesia and
Melanesia.
Polynesian/Oceanic Art
The most famous Polynesian art forms are the Moai (statues) of Rapa Nui/Easter Island. Polynesian
art is characteristically ornate, and often meant to contain supernatural power or
mana. Polynesian works of art were thought to contain spiritual power and could affect change in the
world.
Easter Island
The Moai are monolithic statues, their minimalist style related to forms found
throughout Polynesia. Moai are carved in relatively flat planes, the faces bearing proud but enigmatic
expressions. The human figures would be outlined in the rock wall first, then chipped away until only
the image was left.
Wood Carving
Polynesian Carving often represented gods, deities or an ancestral hero. They were sometimes made
free standing but are also often found as part of an object like the top of a fly whisk. Polynesian
Carving also includes bowls weapons and Jewelry by they are covered in other articles.
Write Down 5 facts you learned from Polynesian/Oceanic Art (Please use complete sentences):
1._______________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
3._______________________________________________________________________________
4._______________________________________________________________________________
5._______________________________________________________________________________
Polynesian/Oceanic Patterns-redraw the patterns in the box provided
