Key Ideas

**Built on ideas from the Romanesque period: the rib vault, the pointed arch, the bay system, and flying buttresses.
** Wanted to reach new heights! Cities competed with each other to build the grandest, tallest church.
** Portals' decoration within the tympanum are project more from the walls: wanted to emphasize verticality.
** Illuminated Manuscripts are influenced by the spike in stained glass windows used in Cathedrals. 

Important History

Early Gothic History

1. Increase in a centralized monarchy. The years 987-1328 were a time of peace in the area around Paris.
2. Sales of charters = Growth and Wealth = Increase of wealth to King because charters connect directly to the King.
3. Agriculture to goods and services
4. Increase in schools: Scholars and teachers transformed western thinking. They changed the way people asked questions and the used logical reasoning.

Late Gothic History

1. Hundred Years' War (France vs. England: 1337-1453) = Decrease in economy and social growth
2. Babylonian Capitvity (1304-1377): French popes moved headquarters to Avignon, France. = Rome started to decay, decrease in maintenance. Strain on schisms of Popes, wasn't resolved until 1409.
3. The Black Death of 1348:  1/4 - 1/3 of the WORLD'S population died! = Architecture was halted, artists depicted the Black Death as a punishment from God = more conservative, reverted to early styles.

Gothic Characteristics by Period

Early Gothic: 1140- 1194 (France)

Facade of Saint Denis, Paris, France

1. Characterized by round columns in the interior
   
2. Rib vaults start at ceiling by travel down only to the top of the column capitals

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High Gothic, Rayonnant Gothic: 1194-1300 (France)

Interior of St. Chapelle, Paris, France

Rayonnant = "radiating"

1. Articulated columns in the interior
2. Rib vaults travel from ceiling to floor
3. Larger window space, choirs, and chevets
4. Dissolution of wall space with the used of stained-glass windows

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Late Gothic, Flamboyant Gothic: After 1300 (France)

Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy

Flamboyant = "flaming"

1. Highly decorative
2. A mass of pinnacles and tracery
3. Ogee arches

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Perpendicular Gothic: After 1350 (England)

Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England

1. Constructed in a garden like setting (inspired by cloisters)
2. Extremely pronounced central spires
3. Smaller flying buttresses and portals
4. Lower towers and wide screen like facades (full of sculpture)
5. **Enormous window spaces interlaced with decorative vertical patterns of stone tracery. 

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