The document discusses medieval architecture in Europe, including various styles that developed over time such as Romanesque and Gothic. It describes key characteristics of different styles, notable structures, and the importance of religious architecture like cathedrals. Specifically, Hagia Sophia represented Byzantine architecture with its domes and mosaics, while Chartres Cathedral exemplified Gothic architecture with features like pointed arches, stained glass windows, and flying buttresses. Medieval architecture advanced building techniques and allowed for grand cathedrals across Europe to be constructed.
The document discusses medieval architecture in Europe, including various styles that developed over time such as Romanesque and Gothic. It describes key characteristics of different styles, notable structures, and the importance of religious architecture like cathedrals. Specifically, Hagia Sophia represented Byzantine architecture with its domes and mosaics, while Chartres Cathedral exemplified Gothic architecture with features like pointed arches, stained glass windows, and flying buttresses. Medieval architecture advanced building techniques and allowed for grand cathedrals across Europe to be constructed.
The document discusses medieval architecture in Europe, including various styles that developed over time such as Romanesque and Gothic. It describes key characteristics of different styles, notable structures, and the importance of religious architecture like cathedrals. Specifically, Hagia Sophia represented Byzantine architecture with its domes and mosaics, while Chartres Cathedral exemplified Gothic architecture with features like pointed arches, stained glass windows, and flying buttresses. Medieval architecture advanced building techniques and allowed for grand cathedrals across Europe to be constructed.
Medieval architecture simply refers to architectural styles in Medieval architecture in Europe
medieval Europe during the middle ages. In fact, architecture
The center of medieval architecture in Europe was the during these times had gone through several changes and creation of spectacular churches and cathedrals. Although phases such as from Romanesque style to Gothic style. medieval architecture went through the same phases as medieval England, the medieval secular architecture that Generally, the architecture of structures in medieval Europe survived to this day mainly served defense purposes during was predominantly related to the building of sacred building the medieval era. such as churches, which was the primary structure signifying Christian faith. The most prevalent layouts during the Castles and walls were the most notable non-religious medieval period depicting classic medieval architecture is examples of medieval architecture throughout Europe. the Latin Cross in the West and the central-plan church in the However, Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles East. flourished across the western part of Europe with France at the heart of both production and innovation. These styles, Medieval architecture featured various styles from especially the Romanesque architectural style, were Romanesque, French style and Gothic styles of architecture. developed from Carolingian and Ottonian models. Each style has distinctive medieval architectural characteristics.Romanesque architecture was widely adopted from 1066 to 1200 and was basically characterized by round Byzantine architecture arches and vaults. While the rest of western Europe experienced radical Most of the architectural structures during these times were divergence in architecture during the medieval period, highly characterized by the use of piers instead of columns. Byzantine architecture remained classically conservative. It Generally, medieval builders preferred round arches at this continued to show classical proportions as well as plain, time. However, this would occasionally vary from time to unadorned surfaces. However, the Byzantine architects also time, where they used slightly pointed arches instead. developed a unique style that primarily distinguished them from the Romans. Gothic style medieval architecture characteristics included stained-glass windows, the use of flying buttresses, tall This was done with complex layouts together with the spires, gargoyles, turrets and arches that were pointed instead designs affinity for domes. Mosaics were Byzantine’s most of being round. favorite artwork. It was no surprise that most building interiors were coated with lavishly designed mosaics and murals. Building architecture and design in Byzantine Medieval England architecture capitals were mostly derived from Greek and classical Architecture played a very important role in Medieval Roman designs. England. The church believed the grander the architecture employed in a church design, the more it is appealing it Gothic architecture would be to God. Gothic architecture began in the 12th century in France. It The church invested a lot of their time and wealth in creating was a new style in architecture and design, which was then these medieval architectural projects, especially making the referred to as the French style. However, as this new style cathedrals of Canterbury and York more grandiose. ceased to embody the classic line and proportion in most designs, it was later on called the “Gothic" style during the The medieval English architecture used for the creation of Renaissance period. churches and cathedrals was of an amazing quality of workmanship. Designs were also dominated mostly by Gothic architecture was light, graceful and mostly spacious rounded shapes and designs. in nature. Several advances in architectural technique came from the Arabs, especially during the time of the Crusades Most cathedrals in the middle ages were built in accordance which led to changes in Gothic styles. with Norman architecture and this style dominated the designs of cathedrals which were built during Williams These changes included the use of a pointed arch, ribbed reign. Norman architecture was also called Romanesque vaults and buttress. Heavy piers were also replaced by architecture. A medieval cathedral was considered a clustered slender ones, while window dimensions became museum in itself, as it housed various samples of art and larger as vaults and spires increased in height. craftsmanship. As part of medieval church architecture, an altar was usually situated on the far east end. However, Medieval Religious Architecture according to art and architectural historians, it actually varied. The orientation of the altar was based on the position of the Cathedral buildings and other medieval religious rising sun from the altar’s site extending towards the west. architectures were expressions of faith. Moreover, they were channels of creative energy during the medieval period.
Churches spent large sums of money for beautification and
Elizabethan Architecture the creation of these buildings. The church even granted indulgences for those who desired to help build churches and Elizabethan architecture was a Renaissance style architecture cathedral structures. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. And the upper class houses followed this style in architecture. Stones and bricks The Roman basilica was the primary model of medieval were used as opposed to timber and wattle. religious architecture and the Latin cross plan was the most common among these religious buildings. Cathedrals were This was done mainly for durability and appearance. also commissioned by Justinian. They embraced Byzantine Elizabethan architecture adopted classic Greek and Roman styles in creating domes as well as the Greek cross. architecture. The original Royal Exchange in London was the first important building designed by Henri de Paschen. Medieval Church Architecture
Medieval church architecture played a very significant role
during the medieval period. Cathedrals started during the reign of William the Conqueror. These were the largest buildings seen in England and across Europe. HAGIA SOPHIA (Byzantine Architecture)
Chartres Cathedral (aka Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, Gothic Architecture)
The medieval and Renaissance periods in Europe Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta span the time from approximately AD 500 to AD Sophia, also called Church of the Holy 1600. Life in medieval Europe has often been Wisdom or Church of the Divine characterized as the “dark ages,” which gives the Wisdom, cathedral built at Constantinople impression that there were no advances in (now Istanbul, Turkey) in the 6th century CE (532– technology or engineering. 537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. By One area in which engineering made significant general consensus, it is the most important advances was the construction of cathedrals, Byzantine structure and one of the world’s great castles, and other large structures. Cathedrals were monuments. built across Europe beginning in the fourth century and continuing into the present. In medieval The Hagia Sophia was built in the remarkably short Europe, cathedrals were built in the Romanesque time of about six years, being completed in 537 CE. style (in the tenth and eleventh centuries) and later Unusual for the period in which it was built, the in the Gothic style (in the twelfth through sixteenth names of the building’s architects—Anthemius of centuries). Romanesque buildings are Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus—are well known, as characterized by thick walls, round arches, and is their familiarity with mechanics and mathematics. large towers. Gothic buildings are characterized by The Hagia Sophia combines a thinner walls with large windows, pointed arches, longitudinal basilica and a centralized building in a and flying buttresses. Several technological wholly original manner, with a huge 32-metre (105- advances made the Gothic cathedral possible. foot) main dome supported on pendentives and two Flying buttresses transfer the gravitational forces semidomes, one on either side of the longitudinal from roofs and upper stories to external pillars; this axis. In plan the building is almost square. There allowed walls to be thin with large windows. In are three aisles separated by columns with addition, the use of pointed arches and ribbed galleries above and great marble piers rising up to vaults transfers forces to columns instead of the support the dome. The walls above the galleries walls. and the base of the dome are pierced by windows, which in the glare of daylight obscure the supports Chartres Cathedral, also called Notre-Dame and give the impression that the canopy floats on d’Chartres or the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, air Gothic cathedral located in the town of Chartres, northwestern France. Generally ranked as one of the three chief examples of Gothic French architecture (along with Amiens Cathedral and Reims Cathedral), it is noted not only for its architectural innovations but also for its numerous sculptures and its much- celebrated stained glass. The cathedral’s association with the Virgin Mary (the supposed veil of the Virgin is kept in the cathedral treasury) made it the destination of pilgrims in the Middle Ages.
The cathedral contains an immense amount of
sculpture, particularly figure sculpture, ranging from large column statues to miniatures. As the purpose of the sculptures was to preach and instruct, they mainly depict scenes and figures from the Old and New Testaments.