This unit focuses on a dramatic moment in the Renaissance from about 1420 when Filippo Brunelleschi single handedly created, defined, and engineered a new architecture by building the great dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. The dome became the symbol of Florence's grandeur during the Renaissance, and a model for great public buildings. Brunelleschi was among the first to undertake a systematic study of ancient Roman architecture both as a model of the architectural grandeur that he felt had been lost during the Middle Ages, and as a model for spatial organization and large-scale engineering that had been forgotten in Western Europe. He combined his new found knowledge of Roman design and building techniques with his own vision, defining a new aesthetic for his own era. One of the great monuments of western architecture, the dome provides a model for a whole tradition of grand public building. It represents a classic case study of the interaction between the collective energies of a community and the genius of an individual. By studying Brunelleschi's grand vision for the dome to crown the cathedral, the economic and political background against which his dream became a reality, the great competition organized by the city for the commission to build the dome, the engineering challenges which had to be overcome, and the impact of Brunelleschi's work on future generations, students will begin to understand and appreciate the creative surge which took hold in Florence and other parts of Italy during the Renaissance. Contains 11 references. (Author/DK)