Vitruvius' De Architectura in context.

Presented work aims to collect and revise the results of the previous researches related to Vitruvius' De Architectura. It is exclusively based on the works published in English. It offers a detailed introduction to Vitruvius and his treatise on the grounds of analysis of the broader historical context - the Octavian's reconstruction of the City of Rome. Finally and most importantly it proposes original approach towards proper understanding of Vitruivus' De Architectura in general. According to presented work, one usually neglected part - 'the origin of building' - of the treatise contains a unique importance with respect to the general account of architecture. It deals with the crucial role of architecture within the development of the humankind while illustrating the relation between the human nature and environment in order to present its mutual dependency