The High Middle Ages: The Christian Centuries

1. Romanesque and Gothic Architecture and Art (pp. 252-262)
Architecture > Order > Hierarchy
http://www.mhhe.com/HumanitiesStudio/2/3/7.html
Medieval builders constructed cathedrals to meet the changing needs of Christian liturgy and practice, including pilgrimages. Romanesque and Gothic architects adapted and improved arch and vaulting structures to construct larger churches. The era saw the development of the narthex, nave, aisle, transept, apse, and choir. Each element of a cathedral was placed in relation to other architectural elements. Look at structure and hierarchy among parts in the cathedrals in this chapter, and click on the link above to explore how hierarchy has been used to establish architectural order. Try your hand at designing your own three-dimensional model of a cathedral by selecting the “Build It” tab.

2. Romanesque and Gothic Architecture and Art (pp. 256-258)
http://www.mhhe.com/HumanitiesStudio/2/5/3.html
Architecture > Structure > Systems
Gothic architects developed new solutions to building large, high structures with innovations like ribbed vaults and flying buttresses. After clicking on the link above, investigate the range of basic structural systems in architecture: Post-Lintel & Bearing Wall, Corbel & Cantilever, Arch & Vault, Truss & Space Frame, and Tensile & Shell. Examine the examples of buildings in the textbook and My Humanities Studio to determine what system each uses. How have architects developed the principles of these structural systems through time?