High Gothic and Raylonant (13th century). The development of the rib vault and the flying buttress resulted in cathedrals that were taller and higher, requiring less thick walls and more window space. As a result, more and larger windows were eventually added to the top walls between the buttresses.
Early Renaissance (14th century). New styles came into fashion, with less emphasis on size and more on beauty and artistry. These new trends can be seen in the large windows placed on the facade of many French churches around this time period.
Late Gothic (15th century). During this era, builders were beginning to use stone instead of brick for their structures, which required more light to see what they were doing. As a result, they built larger windows with more glass area so they could let in as much sunlight as possible.
Renaissance (16th century). This style was all about new ideas and new ways of thinking. One idea that emerged during this time was the concept of the perfect church with no exterior decorations other than its stained-glass windows. The architects of this time period included Michel Anguilherme le Bouteiller (French), Juan de Herrera (Spanish), and Andrea Palladio (Italien).
Baroque (17th century). This style began around 1660 and lasted until about 1750.
Cathedrals began to be created in a new architectural style known as Gothic architecture from the 12th century. The weight of the vaulted ceilings was supported by buttresses rather than the walls in this design. This allows the walls to be thinner and higher. It also made it possible to have tall windows on the walls. These are called "lucarons" which means "light openings".
Gothic cathedrals were built in Europe, especially in France and Germany. They included churches such as Notre Dame de Paris, Saint Pierre de Montmartre, and Cologne Cathedral. In India, there is one Gothic cathedral in Varanasi named Dasi Deul. It was built in 1556-1564.
During the Renaissance period which followed, new styles of architecture were developed. They included Roman ruins, Greek temples, Arabic buildings, and Indian structures such as the Taj Mahal. All these different cultures contributed to create a more unified world culture with many similarities but also differences between them.
Renaissance architects were interested in using classical elements in their designs. For example, they would use pillars with Ionic or Corinthian capitals. But instead of having a flat roof like in the Middle Ages, they would have a hipped or pyramidal roof with scrolls or other shapes.
In England, Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was an architect who helped rebuild London after it was destroyed by fire.
Gothic cathedrals paid homage to God by erecting soaring vaulted ceilings as high into the skies as modern construction permitted. The flying buttress was an engineering breakthrough that carried more weight than prior structures while freeing up a lot of room inside. It's easy to see how this would appeal to architects and church leaders looking to make their buildings stand out.
The interior spaces of Gothic cathedrals were also planned with comfort and ease of use in mind. There were no pews, only standing room-only benches arranged in long rows. This allowed everyone in the congregation to hear the sermon, and it kept people occupied during long prayer sessions before meals or after vespers (the evening service).
Finally, the architecture of Gothic cathedrals reflected the importance they placed on religion. Church officials wanted their congregations to feel proud when walking into a sacred space, so they designed buildings that were rich in detail and color, making them appealing as well as impressive.
Cathedral builders took inspiration from nature; therefore, Gothic churches feature pointed arches, vaults, windows, and spires that look like trees, bones, wings, and feathers respectively. This is why these buildings are often called "nature temples" or "temples naturals".
People in the Renaissance era perceived themselves to be far more civilised and sophisticated than those in the medieval age. As a result, large churches built with flying buttresses to support walls with arched windows were regarded as an ancient and barbaric method of construction. As a result, the name "gothic" (or "barbaric") architecture was coined.
The word "gothic" comes from the Greek god Tauros who had only two legs. When you see a statue of him, he usually has three heads: one normal, one where one side of his face is different, and one where both sides are different. Gothic architecture is known for its asymmetry, odd angles, and unusual shapes. It also has very tall buildings with little or no internal structure inside the body of the building other than the ground floor which contained shops and public spaces.
During the late 11th century and early 12th century, France, Germany, and Italy were ruled by monarchs who wanted impressive buildings to show off their wealth. Therefore, they often hired architects from abroad to help them design their cities. These foreign architects used the gothic style of architecture which was new at the time. They also sent back home to Europe for materials such as stone and wood which were not used much in Europe at the time. These factors helped create a culture gap between the old and new worlds which led to the term "barbaric" architecture being used today.
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