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The Medieval Church Cathedrals

            The Medieval Church Cathedrals and Medieval Man.
             Ideal geometric shapes in architecture have imparted a feeling of order and harmony since the Greeks.
             The Romans, using only geometry and the repeated use of the semicircular arch, later built and empire.
             The medieval flying buttress was born from the desire for building higher; and the pointed arch arose from the necessity of efficiently transferring the extra weight from above.
             Gothic was firs used as a term of derision by Renaissance critics who scorned the architectural style's lack of conformity to the standards of classic Greece and Rome. A closer look, however, reveals that the underpinnings of medieval architecture were firmly rooted in the ancient use of geometry and proportion. It is seen in the overall cruciform shape of a cathedral. Cruciform means the building is in the shape of the cross on which Christ was hung.
             Light was important to medieval theologians. It symbolized God's first creation. The use of stained glass windows transformed ordinary light into something divine. Gothic architecture developed out of a desire to build churches with larger windows so that God's light could shine throughout the building(www.newyorkcarver.com). Most medieval stained glass was not stained.
             Medieval man felt saints were exceptional people because they died for what they believed. Relics of saints were placed in a shrine; often in the form of an elaborate tomb embellished with gems and precious metals. The most notable saint being Thomas Becket. Becket's casket is decorated with scenes of martyrdom, against a blue enamel background, with details picked out in gold and the faces raised up in relief. The casket depicted scenes of his murder, burial and ascent into paradise. His soul is carried aloft by angels. A full-length portrait of him was included in the mosaic decoration of the cathedral of Monreale. Saints were also immortalized in the jamb figures located on either side of the main portal door.


Essays Related to The Medieval Church Cathedrals

1. Speyer Cathedral Germany

Konrad II wanted to build the Cathedral to honor a city of his choice with the largest church of its time. ... The Speyer Cathedral is the largest Romanesque church still standing today. ... This cathedral became the model for hundreds of early medieval churches. This cathedral and medieval imperialism are linked to each other. ... Despite all of the destruction and changes down through the centuries, and all of the religious movements and re-modeling, the Speyer Cathedral is a monument to Romanesque architecture and a unique example of the meaning of medieval belief. ...

  • Word Count: 1773
  • Approx Pages: 7
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2. Gotic Cathedrals

The gothic style was first recognized in northern France around 1140 A.D., during the last major medieval period, immediately following the Romanesque period. ... The growth of towns particularly in France, as they became more prosperous, wanted their own churches, churches that were different from the abbeys. ... Because this church was considered a relic, the sculptured portals that were added had to conform to the dimensions of the already existing church. ... The cathedral has one hundred seventy-six windows with twenty-six thousand square-feet of which still have their original thirt...

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3. Architectural Analysis of Chartres Cathedral

The present church, which is the sixth on built on the location, was begun immediately after the fifth church burned in 1194. The resulting creation stands today as one of the greatest accomplishments of the medieval world. ... Inside, the luminosity of the stained glass fills the entire church. ... They are modelled after parts of medieval daily life, particularly that of the commoner, and provide an insight into these times. ... Chartres Cathedral provided the highest standard among cathedrals of the time, one that perhaps has never been surpassed. ...

  • Word Count: 1621
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
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4. Late Medieval Christianity

One of the many problems in the medieval church was the Great Schism. The Great Schism refers to the division between the Eastern and Western churches, and the period during which the church had first two, and later three, lines of popes. ... Another problem in the medieval church was that of indulgences. ... In reality the sales of indulgences were a means of raising funds to build and adorn cathedrals and palaces because offerings and feudal endowments were not raising enough money. ... Before the reformation period, late medieval Christianity blended a message of God's love and huma...

  • Word Count: 1164
  • Approx Pages: 5
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5. How the Medieval Church Affected Everyday Life

The Medieval Church played a significant role on the people of the times, be they a peasant or nobility, more so than it does today. In this paper, I will relay to you the conditions, rules, and impacts of the Church on Medieval Society. ... In Medieval England, peasants lived in cruck houses. ... However, there are many Medieval churches around. ... The prosperity of the Church is signified best in its buildings: cathedrals, churches, and monasteries. ...

  • Word Count: 891
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6. Medieval Music

However, our knowledge of medieval music is incomplete due to our loss of medieval music. ... Church polyphony was performed only in cathedrals, monasteries, royal chapels, and a few large city churches. ... The common people only heard polyphonic music if they worshipped in a cathedral or monastic church. ... Although writing of the middle ages lets us know a bit about various medieval music, church music has been the only common remains of music composed before the year 1000. The early Christian Church adopted much of the music of the Jewish synagogue. ...

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7. Medieval Culture

It is known that the people of medieval European culture were for the most part, idealist. ... The most important example would be the ways in which the cathedrals were built. ... This was to symbolize that the church was the strongest and largest power in the town. Another example of how they affirmed their spiritual beliefs and values through art, were the stained glass windows they placed in the cathedrals like the Notre Dame de Belle Verriere in the Chartres Cathedral. ... Pierre, Moissac, France (Cunningham 311), the Pentecost, abbey Church of La Madeleine, Vezelay (Cunningham 312)...

  • Word Count: 1437
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8. The Middle Ages; The Golden Age, The Age of Faith, The Age o

This led to the development of universities from cathedrals. ... Medieval students also studied math and medicine and stressed the topic of geometry. ... The building of the grand gothic cathedrals with the marvelous ceilings, stained glass windows and flying buttresses began in the middles ages. These architectural achievements reflected in Medieval Europe by H.C. ... The most important aspect to the medieval citizens was the idea of going to heaven. ...

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