Western Medieval Christian Architecture - Essay Example

Western Medieval Christian Architecture There were several parallel and almost independent cultural flows conditioned by the diversity and insularity of life in the medieval world throughout the European Middle Ages. Very rare cities with their nascent urban culture were located among the vast, partially processed spaces, where the predominant rural peasant culture had a place. The same islets were rare knightly castles, which had their own life. And finally, the medieval Christian church stubbornly created its own culture, imbued with theological ideas.

All this variety of cultures and architecture was intricately mixed, forming mixed picture of medieval European life. Thus, we are going to discuss western medieval Christian architecture in this essay, including information about both the Gothic and Romanesque styles.In the beginning of this essay it is important to mention that two major styles, Romanesque and Gothic, were developed in the field of architecture of Western European Middle Ages. These two styles have reflected the world outlook of their era in the best way.

Medieval Romanesque period begins in the X century, when a period of a lull was possible after many internecine wars. Historical evidence states that, by this time, a vast empire of Charlemagne had already formed some European states which have not been able to acquire the cultural autonomy and identity, and culture of each of them was just a variation on a European theme (Perry et al. 217-222).It is obvious that pilgrimages to Jerusalem and the crusades introduced Europeans to the culture of the Arab East.

Different Christian monasteries greatly expanded their activity: they built roads, bridges, hotels and hospitals. New experience and traditions were transferred from the master of one monastery to other monastery, from city to city, contributing the integration of new culture in Europe. Most of all, the medieval philosophy of that period was reflected in the construction of the Romanesque cathedral (Perry et al. 204-208).Composition in the Middle Ages was understood literally, as the folding, drawing up a new form of ready-made.

This was evident in all the arts, and especially in the architecture. And even today the Romanesque cathedral seems as it is composed of several separate volumes like cubes. In such a way, previously stated information gives us an understanding of the fact that already the Romanesque era formed the main design features of the cathedral, which was brought to perfection in the Gothic style in the next centuries. In accordance with the ideology of Christian religion, Romanesque church was divided into three parts, while each part was symbolically likened to the human, angelic and divine worlds, or the body, mind and spirit (Calkins 100-104).

Thinking about Romanesque style and comparing it to Gothic style, we can mention that Romanesque style in the architecture is a time of castles and travel masters, while Gothic architecture marks the beginning of the active urban expansion. Calkins stated that the city quickly gave a rise to new, previously unseen types of buildings: the exchange, custom house, market, court, hospital, warehouse etc (111).City cathedral of the XIII century - was not only a place of worship, it also played a social role, because the square before the cathedral, and the cathedral itself, became a popular place for debates, lectures, theatrical performances and other meetings.

In such a way, Gothic design has cut through the large windows in the cathedrals and practicable ‘dissolve’ the walls in the space of air. The spaces between supporting columns were filled with stained glass everywhere. They were filled with colorful mosaic windows, which have largely replaced iconography and sculpture in the Gothic style (Calkins 168-190).Thus, taking everything into consideration it is possible to say that we have observed western medieval Christian architecture with all necessary details.

In conclusion, both Romanesque and Gothic style gave the world a wonderful, very beautiful buildings, many of which are included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage nowadays.Works cited:Calkins, Robert. Medieval Architecture in Western Europe: From A.D. 300 to 1500. Oxford University Press, 1998.Perry et al. Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society, Volume I: To 1789, 9th Edition. Wadsworth, 2009.