Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/661

 A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE ON THE COMPARATIVE METHOD. PART II. THE NON-HISTORICAL STYLES. General Introduction. The non-historical styles— Indian, Chinese and Japanese, and Central American— are those which developed mainly on their own account and exercised little direct influence on other styles. They can thus be studied independently, and need not interrupt the story of the evolution of European Historical Archi- tecture dealt with in Part I., which would probably be the case if they were placed in their chronological order. The position which they should occupy in a History of Architecture is, how- ever, a matter of doubt, but it is thought that by keeping them quite separate from the historical styles, it will make for greater clearness to the student. Saracenic architecture is also placed in Part H., as its connection with European architecture is not generally considered important, although it certainly influenced it to some extent. Mention should be made of the late Mr. Fergusson's investiga- tions on the subject. He was the first to piece together the story of Indian and Eastern architecture, not only by his own patient researches, but by utilizing the vast amount of material brought to light by General Cunningham and a score of others, who had been working mainly in connection with government depart- ments. Mr. Fergusson's chronology is founded on his own labours and such investigations, and is the one which has been followed. The study of Indian and indeed of all Eastern art enlarges the view, since it presents many novel forms to which one is