GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

• How many new towns were built to accommodate the rising population?

  4000
• What role did towns like Paris, Milan, and Florence play during this period?


  They became centers of trade
• What system ruled the lands during this period?

  Feudal system
• How did landlords rule under the feudal system?

  With tyranny
• What was the general sentiment among the people during this time?

  There was restlessness among the people
• What conditions did towns face as they became crowded?

  They became dirty and disease was rife
• When did the Black Death strike Europe?

  From 1347 to 1351
• What was the impact of the Black Death on the population?

  It killed half the population
• How was the Black Death spread?

  By rats and fleas
• How quickly could the Black Death kill a person?

  Within 3 days
• What does the term "Gothic" refer to in architecture?

  A style that is a departure from classic lines
• What is another name for Gothic architecture?

  Medieval Architecture
• During which centuries was the Holy Roman Empire reduced to the area of Germany?

  12th – 13th centuries
• Which three great kingdoms remained after the reduction of the Holy Roman Empire?

  France, England, and Castile in Spain
• What agricultural advancements contributed to prosperous years during this period?

  The invention of the windmill and water-mill
• What was the religious affiliation of most Europeans during this time?

  Most Europeans were Catholics
• Who brought Christians together during this period?

  The Church under the Pope
• What was the common goal of the rulers, the church, and townspeople?

  To spend wealth on building more castles, cathedrals, and monasteries
• How did towns compete with each other during this period?

  To produce the best architecture
• What are the main architectural styles in the history of architecture listed in the study material?

  • Prehistoric
  • Near East
  • Egyptian
  • Greek
  • Roman
  • Early Christian
  • Byzantine
  • Romanesque
  • Gothic
  • Renaissance
  • 18th-19th C Revival
  • 20th C Modern
  • Islamic
  • Indian
  • Chinese & Japanese
  • Filipino
  • Ottoman Empire
  • France
  • Castile
  • Africa
  • England
  • Holy Roman Empire
  • Scotland
  • Ireland
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Poland
  • Hungary
  • Russia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Livonia
  • Lithuania
  • Papal States
• Who used the term "Gothic architecture" and what was its original connotation?

  Giorgio Vasari used it as a derogatory description
• What did Vasari attribute to "the Goths" in his writings?


  He held them responsible for destroying ancient buildings
• What architectural vocabulary was revived in the Renaissance?

  The Classical architectural vocabulary
• What is the time frame for Gothic architecture?

  1050-1530
• What does "Style Ogivale" refer to in Gothic architecture?

  The progressive lightening and heightening of structure
• What are the key features of Gothic architecture?

  Pointed arch, rib vault, buttresses, large windows
• In what type of architecture did Gothic primarily develop?

  Ecclesiastical architecture
• What types of buildings were constructed in the Gothic style?

  Cathedrals, town houses, castles, civic buildings
• What architectural features were developed during the Romanesque period that influenced Gothic architecture?

  Ribbed vaults, buttresses, clustered columns
• What was the significant change that separated Gothic from Romanesque architecture?

  The widespread introduction of the pointed arch
• How did the pointed arch affect the style of Gothic architecture?

  It allowed for a style where light appears to triumph over substance
• What are the main differences between Romanesque and Gothic architecture?

  Gothic architecture is characterized by verticality and light, while Romanesque is more horizontal and solid
• What are the key differences between Romanesque and Gothic architecture?

  | Feature | Romanesque | Gothic |

  |-----------------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

  | Chapels and apse | Separate compartments | Unified, unbroken space |

  | Vault | Mostly barrel-vaults | Groin-vaulted cathedrals |

  | Arch type | Rounded arches | Pointed arches |

  | Main vault support | Thick walls, buttresses | Exterior flying buttresses |

  | Clerestory | Small windows | Large stained-glass windows |

  | Elevation | Horizontal, modest height | Vertical, soaring |

  | Exterior | Plain, little decoration | Ornate, delicate, lots of sculpture |

  | Sculptural decoration | Thin, elongated figures | More realistic proportions |

  | Mood | Dark, gloomy | Tall, light-filled |

  | Example | St. Sernin, Toulouse | Chartres Cathedral, France |
• What is a characteristic of Gothic cathedrals in terms of height?

  They are considerably taller than they are wide
• What does the verticality of Gothic architecture suggest?

  An aspiration to Heaven
• How does the pointed arch contribute to the appearance of height in Gothic architecture?

  It lends itself to a suggestion of height
• What role does light play in Gothic architecture?

  It emphasizes divinity and is important in holy settings
• How did the size of windows change from the Romanesque to the Gothic period?

  Windows increased in size due to the use of the ribbed vault
• What is the function of the flying buttress in Gothic architecture?

  It arches externally to support the structure
• What does the stone skeleton of a Gothic building consist of?

  Clustered columns, pointed ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses