Styles of architecture in the middle ages.

There were two main styles of architecture in the middle ages. Gothic style architecture

included big churches called cathedrals. Cathedrals had tall skyscraper-like towers. They

made them that way to get people to look up in the sky and think of God. Gothic

architecture involved lots of big windows of stained glass. The Gothic style was developed

fully in France and England during the 12th century. By the 13th century, Gothic style

spread to Germany. A real and true Gothic cathedral is the Milan Cathedral in Italy. The

Gothic church here is a picture of St. Chapelle in Paris, France. It was built in the

mid-1200s.

Romanesque architecture had big internal spaces. These buildings had barrel vaults,

columns and windows and doors with rounded arches. The buildings were solid and heavy

with small windows. They were dimly lit. This Romanesque church is in

St.-Guilhelm-le-Desert, France. It was founded by one of Charlemagne's bravest

Abduction of Europe

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Parts of the Gothic Cathedral - Chartres Cathedral

lieutenants.

A gargoyle was a scary, ugly stone figure that was common on Gothic buildings. They

could be found on the roof or eaves. The original purpose of a gargoyle was to act as a

spout to prevent seepage and damage to the building. People believed they could scare

away evil spirits and serve a practical function at the same time. This gargoyle sits in front

of the bell tower at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

Sainte-Chapelle Reims Cathedral

1243 - 1248.1210 and later, the nave of the cathedral.

1220 - 1330.

A significat characterisitc of gothic architecture is

hieght. However, the higher the wall, the more force there is pushing in a outwardly

direction. Buttresses allowed builders to go higher with their walls as it allowed more

support. In this photo you can see the buttresses jutting perpendicular from the wall.

Invention of the...