finals 8

Romanesque period

 Many castles were built during this period, but they are greatly outnumbered by churches. Fortifications were made as churches. These churches had thick walls made of stone so they could withstand anything that was thrown at it. They hardly had any windows and if they did they were small so that attacking enemy's would have trouble shooting arrows into the church. The taller parts of the church is where the archers would get into position. Ready to fire at attackers.

During this time the church was more focused on keeping itself safe. Providing protection to its people, and gaining power, then it was on expressing passion for the Christ. For example Speyer Cathedral created by Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1030, begun as an expression of imperial power and architectural innovation. They were more influenced by power back then. They didn’t care about how beautiful they're cathedrals were as long as they had power

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It originated in 12th century France and lasting into the 16th century, Gothic architecture was known during the period as "the French Style," with the term Gothic first appearing during the later part of the Renaissance.

the style was born in the mid-12th century with the intention of making churches look like heaven: soaring, colorful, and bright. The biggest difference in Gothic style was the use of flying buttresses. These support structures or towers, set off from the main walls and attached by arches, displaced the pressure from the roof outward. Essentially, this meant the buildings could get taller, walls could get thinner, and there could be a lot of stained-glass windows. Gothic churches sport huge, ornate, petaled round masterpieces called rose windows. Further, Gothic cathedrals were also much pointier than their predecessors, with pointed arches and tall spires (instead of blunt towers) characterizing the style.

Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities and to a less prominent extent, private dwellings.

It is in the great churches and cathedrals and in a number of civic buildings that the Gothic style was expressed most powerfully, its characteristics lending themselves to appeal to the emotions. They were usually tall as if they were "reaching up to god", And had A LOT of windows to let "gods great glory and light shine in". Most churches were made in the shape of a cross to symbolize Christ on the cross. The golden tabernacle originated from these gothic churches. The gold represents the greatness of the body of Christ and how well respected it should be. The apse of these buildings were very flowing and unified to resemble unity and calmness of the heavens, where as Romanesque apse's were separated for protection and stability