Editing Medieval architecture

{{Short description|Architecture during the Middle Ages}}
[[File:Durham Cathedral Nave.jpg|thumb|12th-century Romanesque [[nave]] of [[Durham Cathedral]] with [[Rib vault|rib vaulting]].]]'''Medieval architecture''' was the [[architecture|art and science of designing and constructing buildings]] in the [[Middle Ages]]. The major styles of the period included [[pre-Romanesque]], [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]], and [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]]. In the fifteenth century, architects began to favour [[Classical architecture|classical]] forms again, in the [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance style]], marking the end of the medieval period. Many examples of religious, civic, and military architecture from the Middle Ages survive throughout Europe.

==Styles==
===Pre-Romanesque===
{{Main article|Pre-Romanesque art and architecture}}

[[File:Santa María del Naranco, Oviedo edited.jpg|thumb|The church of [[Santa María del Naranco]], originally a palace, built in the pre-Romanesque [[Asturian architecture|Asturian]] style.]]

The pre-Romanesque period lasted from the beginning of the Middle Ages (around 500 AD) to the emergence of the Romanesque style (from the 10th century). Much of the notable architecture from the period comes from France and Germany, under the [[Merovingian art and architecture|Merovingians]] and the [[Carolingian architecture|Carolingians]] and the [[Ottonian architecture|Ottonians]]. Other regions also have examples of architecture from this period, including [[Croatian pre-Romanesque art and architecture|Croatia]], [[Anglo-Saxon architecture|England]] and [[Iberian pre-Romanesque art and architecture|Iberia]] (especially in [[Asturian architecture|Asturias]] and [[Mozarabic art and architecture|León]]). In Lombardy, the pre-Romanesque style included many Romanesque features and is therefore known as the [[First Romanesque]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Romanesque |url=https://www.oxfordartonline.com/groveart/display/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000072835 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Grove Art Online |date=2003 |language=en |doi=10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T072835 |last1=Fernie |first1=Eric |last2=Lyman |first2=Thomas W. |last3=Hicks |first3=Carola |last4=Baylé |first4=Maylis |last5=Tcherikover |first5=Anat |last6=Camus |first6=M. T. |last7=Johnson |first7=Danielle Valin |last8=Stratford |first8=Neil |last9=Borg |first9=Alan |last10=Moralejo |first10=S. |last11=d'Emilio |first11=James |last12=Dias |first12=Pedro |last13=Johnson |first13=Faith |last14=West |first14=Jeffrey |last15=Thurlby |first15=Malcolm |last16=Kahn |first16=Deborah |last17=Garton |first17=Tessa |last18=Stalley |first18=Roger |last19=Hülsen |first19=A. v. |last20=Verzar |first20=Christine |last21=Buchwald |first21=Hans |last22=Claussen |first22=P. Cornelius |last23=Williamson |first23=Paul |last24=Glass |first24=Dorothy F. |last25=d'Elia |first25=Pina Belli |last26=Sheppard |first26=Carl D. |last27=Smith |first27=Elizabeth B. |last28=Niehoff |first28=F. |last29=Will |first29=Robert |last30=Semff |first30=Michael |isbn=978-1-884446-05-4 |display-authors=1 }}</ref>

===Romanesque===
{{main article|Romanesque architecture}}
[[File:Pisa Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta Esterno Angolo Sud Ovest 4.jpg|thumb|[[Pisa Cathedral]] and the [[Leaning Tower of Pisa|Leaning Tower]] in the [[Pisan Romanesque style|Pisan Romanesque]] style.]]
The Romanesque style was predominant across Europe during the 11th and 12th centuries. It is characterized by rounded arches, by [[Barrel vault|barrel]] or [[Groin vault|groin]] vaulting and by thick walls. The first and greatest patrons of Romanesque architecture came from the Church, especially monastic traditions such as [[Cluny Abbey|Cluniacs]] and the [[Cistercian architecture|Cistercians]], but examples of [[Romanesque secular and domestic architecture|Romanesque civic and military buildings]] survive.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=Hicks |first=Carola |title=Romanesque |date=2003-01-01 |work=The Oxford Companion to Western Art |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780198662037.001.0001/acref-9780198662037-e-2260 |access-date=2024-12-09 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780198662037.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-866203-7|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The term 'Romanesque' (literally meaning 'in the manner of the Romans') was first used to describe the style in 1819.<ref>{{Citation |title=Romanesque, n. & adj. |date=2023-03-02 |work=Oxford English Dictionary |url=https://oed.com/dictionary/romanesque_n |access-date=2024-12-09 |edition=3 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/oed/9822227393|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Although the style did draw on [[ancient Roman architecture]], it was ultimately an original style and had a wider range of influences than the name suggests.<ref name=":0" />

Examples of Romanesque architecture survive [[List of regional characteristics of Romanesque churches|across Europe]], including in [[Norman architecture|England]], [[French Romanesque architecture|France]], [[List of Brick Romanesque buildings|Germany]], [[Pisan Romanesque style|Italy]], [[Romanesque architecture in Spain|Spain]], Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.<ref name=":1" />[[File:Sainte Chapelle - Upper level 1.jpg|thumb|320x320px|[[Sainte-Chapelle]], Paris, built in the [[Rayonnant]] Gothic style between 1238 and 1248.]]
===Gothic===
{{Main article|Gothic architecture}}
The Gothic style was predominant across Europe between the late 12th century and the end of the Middle Ages in the 15th century. The key feature of Gothic architecture is pointed arches. Other features, including [[Rib vault|rib vaulting]], exterior [[Buttress|buttresses]], elaborate [[tracery]] and [[stained glass]], are commonly found in Gothic architecture. The choir of the [[Basilica of Saint-Denis]] in France, completed in 1144, is considered to be the first wholly Gothic building, combining all of these elements.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Gothic |url=https://www.oxfordartonline.com/groveart/display/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000033435 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Grove Art Online |date=2003 |language=en |doi=10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T033435 |last1=Kidson |first1=Peter |last2=Davis |first2=Michael T. |last3=Crossley |first3=Paul |last4=Sandron |first4=Dany |last5=Morrison |first5=Kathryn |last6=Bräm |first6=Andreas |last7=Blum |first7=Pamela Z. |last8=Sekules |first8=V. |last9=Lindley |first9=Phillip |last10=Henze |first10=Ulrich |last11=Holladay |first11=Joan A. |last12=Kreytenberg |first12=G. |last13=Tigler |first13=Guido |last14=Grandi |first14=R. |last15=d'Achille |first15=Anna Maria |last16=Aceto |first16=Francesco |last17=Steyaert |first17=J. |last18=Dias |first18=Pedro |last19=Svanberg |first19=Jan |last20=Mata |first20=Angela Franco |last21=Evelyn |first21=Peta |last22=Tångeberg |first22=Peter |last23=Hicks |first23=Carola |last24=Campbell |first24=Marian |last25=Taburet-Delahaye |first25=Elisabeth |last26=Koldeweij |first26=A. M. |last27=Reinheckel |first27=G. |last28=Kolba |first28=Judit |last29=Karlsson |first29=Lennart |last30=Boehm |first30=Barbara Drake |isbn=978-1-884446-05-4 |display-authors=1 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Coldstream |first=Nicola |title=Gothic |date=2003-01-01 |work=The Oxford Companion to Western Art |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780198662037.001.0001/acref-9780198662037-e-1090 |access-date=2024-12-10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780198662037.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-866203-7|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The term 'Gothic' (literally meaning 'in the manner of the [[Goths]]') was first used in the 16th century by [[Giorgio Vasari]]. However, the Goths, an ancient Germanic people, had no influence on the Gothic style. The Gothic style actually evolved from Romanesque architecture in France. A number of [[Influences upon Gothic architecture|other factors and styles]] may have influenced early Gothic architecture. Architecture that combines elements of both the Romanesque and Gothic styles is sometimes referred to as [[Romano-Gothic]].<ref name=":2" />
[[File:20130808 Kings College Chapel 01.jpg|thumb|[[King's College Chapel, Cambridge|King's College Chapel]], Cambridge, built in the [[Perpendicular Gothic]] style between 1446 and 1515.]]
Scholars have divided Gothic architecture into a number of different periods: [[Early Gothic architecture|Early Gothic]] in the 12th century, [[High Gothic]] (similar to [[Classic Gothic]]) in the 13th century, and Late Gothic from the 14th century. During the High Gothic period, [[Rayonnant]] was the primary style in France and [[Decorated gothic|Decorated]] was the main style in England. In the Late Gothic period, [[Flamboyant]] was the primary style in France (and Spain) and [[Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]] was the main style in England. Although from the 15th century the Gothic style was replaced by [[Renaissance architecture]], marking the end of the Middle Ages and medieval architecture, there were [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] and [[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque Revival]] movements in the nineteenth century.<ref name=":2" />

Both [[Gothic cathedrals and churches|religious]] and [[Gothic secular and domestic architecture|secular]] examples of medieval Gothic architecture survive, notably a number of [[List of Gothic cathedrals in Europe|cathedrals]]. Examples survive [[List of Gothic architecture|across Europe]], including in [[Belarusian Gothic|Belarus]], [[Czech Gothic architecture|Czechia]], [[English Gothic architecture|England]], [[French Gothic architecture|France]], [[Italian Gothic architecture|Italy]], [[Gothic architecture in Lithuania|Lithuania]], the [[Brabantine Gothic|Low Countries]], [[Gothic architecture in modern Poland|Poland]], [[Portuguese Gothic architecture|Portugal]], Scandinavia, and [[Spanish Gothic architecture|Spain]]. Each country developed a unique style of Gothic architecture, as did many smaller regions, including [[Southern French Gothic|Southern France]], [[Gothic art in Milan|Milan]], [[Venetian Gothic architecture|Venice]], [[Catalan Gothic|Catalonia]], [[Levantine Gothic|Levante]], and [[Valencian Gothic|Valencia]]. The [[Brick Gothic|Brick Gothic style]] was widespread [[List of Brick Gothic buildings|around the Baltic and in North Germany]]. Towards the end of the Gothic period, a number of new regional styles emerged, often incorporating elements of Renaissance architecture. These include the [[Plateresque]] in Spain, [[Isabelline (architectural style)|Isabelline]] in Castile, [[Manueline]] in Portugal, and [[Sondergotik]] around Germany.<ref name=":2" />

==Functions==
===Religious architecture===
{{Further|Architecture of cathedrals and great churches|Gothic cathedrals and churches}}
[[File:Santa María La Blanca ^ sinagoga en TOLEDO - panoramio edited.jpg|thumb|The [[synagogue of Santa María la Blanca]], Toledo, built {{Circa|1200}} and later converted into a Catholic church.]]
Many surviving medieval buildings originally served a religious purpose. The architecture of the buildings depended on the religion it served, the region it was located in, and the styles during the time. For example, mosques often had [[History of medieval Arabic and Western European domes|domes]], whereas churches usually had bell towers. Although some examples of medieval [[Historic synagogues#Europe|synagogues]] and [[List of the oldest mosques#Europe|mosques]] survive, particularly in Spain, Christian churches and monasteries are the most common survival throughout Europe.

A number of different types of medieval church survive: parish churches, such as in [[Medieval parish churches of York|York]]; cathedral churches; such as across [[Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England|England]]; and abbey churches, such as across [[List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches|England]]. Most surviving churches are [[Gothic cathedrals and churches|in the Gothic style]], and share a number of features — stained glass, vaulting, buttresses, and an altar at the east end. Churches usually took the [[Cruciform|shape of a cross]], with a [[nave]], [[chancel]], [[Transept|transepts]] and [[Aisle|aisles]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bucher |first=François |date=1972 |title=Medieval Architectural Design Methods, 800-1560 |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/766593 |journal=Gesta |language=en |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=37–51 |doi=10.2307/766593 |issn=0016-920X |jstor=766593|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Churches often had reliquaries to display precious relics.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bonser |first=Wilfrid |date=1962 |title=The Cult of Relics in the Middle Ages |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1258503 |journal=Folklore |volume=73 |issue=4 |pages=234–256 |issn=0015-587X |jstor=1258503}}</ref> Their design often had religious symbolism, such as [[Sunday Christ]] paintings and biblical narratives in stained glass.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alexander |first=Jonathan J. G. |date=1993 |title=Iconography and Ideology: Uncovering Social Meanings in Western Medieval Christian Art |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23923571 |journal=Studies in Iconography |volume=15 |pages=1–44 |issn=0148-1029 |jstor=23923571}}</ref> The surviving churches are almost entirely made out of stone.

===Military architecture===
[[File:Zolyomcivertanlegi1.jpg|thumb|[[Zvolen Castle]] in [[Slovakia]] strongly inspired by Italian castles of the fourteenth century]]
{{Further|Medieval fortification|Castle}}
[[File:Motte & Bailey.svg|thumb|A diagram of a [[Motte-and-bailey castle|Motte and Bailey Castle]] ]]
Surviving examples of medieval [[Secularity|secular]] architecture mainly served for defense, these include [[Fortification|forts]], [[castle]]s, [[tower house]]s, and [[Defensive wall|fortified walls]]. Fortifications were built during the Middle Ages to display the power of the lords of the land and reassure common folk in their protection of property and livelihood. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Warner |first=Philip |title=The medieval castle: life in a fortress in peace and war |date=1971 |publisher=Taplinger Pub. Co |isbn=978-0-8008-5186-6 |location=New York}}</ref>In the early Middle Ages, fortifications were made from wood and earth, these were called [[Motte-and-bailey castle|Motte and bailey castles]]. These consist of a [[stockade]] or [[palisade]] surrounding an enclosed courtyard and man-made mound. This fortification acted as a passive obstacle that potential enemies would have to face to attack the civilization. However, this method of fortification had its downside including being vulnerable to fires so more methods of fortification were created.

Military architecture began to start being created with stone in the [[11th century]], it was also used to indicate wealth and power of the area protected with it. Stone was much more durable and was fireproof. They also began to adopt the use of cylindrical ground plans. There were many benefits to a cylindrical shape, it reduced blindspots, they were more resistant.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kaufmann |first1=Joseph Erich |title=The Medieval fortress: castles, forts and walled cities of the Middle Age |last2=Kaufmann |first2=Hanna Wanda |date=2001 |publisher=Combined Publishing |isbn=978-1-58097-062-4 |location=Conshohocken (Pa.)}}</ref> Some examples of cylindrical fortifications are the [[gate tower]]s at [[Harlech Castle]] and the [[Mende, France|Tour des Pénitents.]]

Medieval Fortifications also displayed many different defensive elements including, [[Hoarding (castle)|hoardings]], loopholes or crosslets, and [[moat]]s. Hoarding and loopholes were both beneficial for the [[Archery|archers]] or missile throwers, allowing them to see their targets better. Windows gained a cross-shape for more than decorative purposes, they provided a perfect fit for a [[crossbow]]man to shoot invaders from inside safely. [[Moat]]s were used as a defensive mechanism for keeping attackers further away from the fort, while most were kept dry, moats were much more effective when wet.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Oulmas |first1=Mohand |last2=Abdessemed-Foufa |first2=Amina |last3=Avilés |first3=Angel Benigno Gonzalez |last4=Conesa |first4=José Ignacio Pagán |date=January 2024 |title=Assessing the Defensibility of Medieval Fortresses on the Mediterranean Coast: A Study of Algerian and Spanish Territories |journal=ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=2 |doi=10.3390/ijgi13010002 |doi-access=free |issn=2220-9964|hdl=10045/139477 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

===Civic architecture===
{{Main article|Romanesque secular and domestic architecture|Gothic secular and domestic architecture}}
While much of the surviving medieval architecture is either religious or military, examples of civic and even domestic architecture can be found throughout Europe. Examples include [[manor house]]s, [[town hall]]s, [[almshouse]]s and bridges, but also residential houses. Walled towns were constructed across Europe, including in [[Austrian walled towns|Austria]].
The Civic landscape of Europe was built up of the crown, the church, [[Guild|guilds]], [[Mayor|mayors]], and the elite. It was also largely running off of ceremonies that connected these relationships. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Hanawalt |first=Barbara |title=Ceremony and civility: civic culture in late medieval London |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-049043-0 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> The examples of the civic architecture mentioned in the last paragraph were mostly owned by the elite or government buildings. For example, [[Manor house|manor houses]] were owned by [[Bishop|bishops]] and located closely in relation to churches. These buildings, due to their higher class ownership, were more large in scale with elements that displayed wealth. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Michael W. |title=Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales |date=2018 |publisher=Routledge Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=978-0-429-45084-6 |edition=Reissued |location=Abingdon New York,NY}}</ref> They also provide an insight into the social history of the area it sits in through its architecture due to them adapting throughout the years to accommodate what the owner needed most. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Luengas-Carreño |first1=D. |last2=Crespo de Antonio |first2=M. |last3=Sánchez-Beitia |first3=S. |date=2020-07-24 |title=Typological Study and Cataloguing of Late Medieval Manor Houses of the Basque Country (Spain) |url=https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLIV-M-1-2020/65/2020/ |journal=The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences |language=English |volume=XLIV-M-1-2020 |pages=65–71 |doi=10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIV-M-1-2020-65-2020 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2020ISPAr44M1...65L |issn=1682-1750}}</ref> Majority of these buildings were made of stone while some were also wood framed. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barley |first=Maurice W. |date=January 1988 |title=Nottinghamshire Medieval Manor Houses. |url=https://www.brepolsonline.net/doi/10.1484/J.NMS.3.163 |journal=Nottingham Medieval Studies |language=en |volume=32 |pages=165–175 |doi=10.1484/J.NMS.3.163 |issn=0078-2122|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Architecture of Kievan Rus']]
* [[Architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School]]
* [[Byzantine architecture]]
* [[Medieval Scandinavian architecture]]
* [[Medieval Serbian architecture]]
* [[List of medieval stone bridges in Germany]]
* [[List of medieval bridges in France]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Braun, Hugh, ''An Introduction to English Mediaeval Architecture'', London: Faber and Faber, 1951.
* "Building the House of God: Architectural Metaphor and ''The Mystic Ark,''" ''Codex Aquilarensis: Revista de arte medieval'' (2016)
* [[Banister Fletcher|Fletcher, Banister]]; Cruickshank, Dan, ''Sir [[Banister Fletcher's a History of Architecture]]'', Architectural Press, 20th edition, 1996 (first published 1896). {{ISBN|0-7506-2267-9}}. Cf. Part Two, Chapter 13.
* Hillson, J., Buchanan, A., Webb, N [https://books.google.com/books?id=O8EyEAAAQBAJ , ''Digital Analysis of Vaults in English Medieval Architecture''], London: Taylor & Francis (2021).
* Rudolph, Conrad, "Building-Miracles as Artistic Justification in the Early and Mid-Twelfth Century," ''Radical Art History: Internationale Anthologie,'' ed. Wolfgang Kersten (1997) 398–410.
* Rudolph, Conrad, "The Architectural Metaphor in Western Medieval Artistic Culture: From the Cornerstone to ''The Mystic Ark''," ''The Cambridge History of Religious Architecture'', ed. Stephen Murray (2016).
* Rudolph, Conrad, "Medieval Architectural Theory, the Sacred Economy, and the Public Presentation of Monastic Architecture: The Classic Cistercian Plan," ''Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians'' 78 (2019) 259–275.

==External links==
* [http://scandinaviacityguide.com/the-stave-churches-in-norway/ The stave churches in Norway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511031439/http://scandinaviacityguide.com/the-stave-churches-in-norway/ |date=2016-05-11 }}
* [https://charlvarchive.org Photographs and Plans of Crusader, Armenian and Byzantine Architecture in Turkey]

{{archhistory}}
{{Middle Ages wide 2}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Medieval architecture| ]]