The Ten Books on Architecture

** "The Ten Books on Architecture" by Vitruvius Pollio is a detailed writing from the 1st century BC that explores the basics of architecture, from how cities should be planned to the construction methods used and the materials needed. Vitruvius stresses that architects need to be knowledgeable in many subjects, showing that a good education is important for designing and building well. The writing starts with Vitruvius explaining why he wrote it, dedicating it to Emperor Augustus with the hope of improving society through his architectural knowledge. He points out that architects should know about things like geometry, history, philosophy, music, and medicine to do their jobs properly. Vitruvius goes on to discuss the main ideas behind architecture, such as order, arrangement, symmetry, and cost-effectiveness, explaining that these are all essential for good building design and paving the way for more technical topics later on. **