Abstract

This paper explores the evolution of shelter from ancient literature to contemporary urban housing examining how historical texts reflect early human needs and values related to housing and compare them with modern practices. Ancient literature including works from Mesopotamian Egyptian Greek and Roman sources provides rich insights into the social cultural and environmental considerations influencing early shelter design and use. These texts reveal the significance of shelter in social hierarchy community structure and daily life. By juxtaposing these historical perspectives with contemporary urban housing practices the paper highlights shifts in architectural and social paradigms. Modern urban housing driven by technological advancements and changing socio-economic factors presents new challenges and opportunities for addressing human shelter needs. This comparative analysis underscores the continuity and divergence in shelter concepts over millennia offering a deeper understanding o