Medieval Period – Feudal System and Architecture

As seen in the cathedral of Salisbury, English Gothic architecture used smaller, symmetrical towers. There stained glass windows were wider than the French architecture. They tended to use fan vaulting rather than rib vaulting. An example of this type of English architecture would be the Salisbury Cathedral.

Castle designs have changed over history. This is because of changes in technology over time. The first castles were simply 'mounds' of earth, and medieval castle designs improved on these basics - adding ditches in the Bailey design, which is the name given to the lay out of the castle.

The Middle Ages, also known as the Medieval era, though scarred with a history of violence and war, has given the world some of the most marvelous and beautiful pieces of art, particularly in architecture. The Middle Ages is the name given to the time period from the late 5th century to the 15th century, particular to European history. The construction of these types of buildings was a constant for various cultures for a thousand years. They can be categorized into three phases; Pre-Romanesque, Romanesque and Gothic. The most important buildings during medieval times were religious, defensive and governmental or power related.

England has a long history of periodic architecture and aside from recent war damage and the destruction during the Dissolution of the Monasteries Acts in the 16th century by Henry VIII, much of its historic legacy remains intact.

The tactics used by William the Conqueror and the Norman army, militarily, administratively, and culturally, impacted their success in imposing their power within the English kingdom. These tactics worked in tandem, increasing the success of each of their objectives. The military force used by the Normans was useful in gaining and later maintaining territories for the crown, the administration allowed William the Conqueror’s reign to act in a more effective manner under him in the early days of his rule, and the cultural and religious structures allowed the Normans to integrate the already closely tied Norman and English societies.

Religion has always been a part of our identity. Today, the population wander around the world seeing these wonderful churches and religious buildings all around us. The architectural style of the Middle Ages was very prominent: high stone vaults, internal elevations of multiple stories, rounded arches, and thick walls. This was characterized as Romanesque architecture. Suger revolutionized everything. He reworked these ideas and introduced, to the world, what is now known as the Gothic architectural style.

Feudalism, as a decentralized political system, flourished in Medieval Europe. In this essay, the main political and economic characteristics of Feudalism will be mentioned, while discussing the main historical factors to the rise and fall of feudalism.

Of William I’s (1066-1087) sons, William the II (1087-1100) was a better king than his younger brother Henry I (1100-1135). William I’s was the first Norman king to rule England. He split his heritance between his three living sons. Robert received the rule of Normandy, William II received England and Henry I received five thousand pounds. In early medieval England a good king was a heroic soldier and a strong leader who was fair but enforced the law. It was also important that they were Christian and unsinful. William II “The Rufus”-because of his red face or temper, was true to himself and what he believed in while Henry I “Beauclerc”-because of his high level of education, was a brutal and selfish king, not only to his people, but also

The Medieval Period lasted from the 10th century to the 17th century; this was the time of castles. The word castle is derived from the Latin word castellum which means fort. Castles still stand today as one of the most magnificent structures ever built. Not only are people fascinated with their grand splendor, but with their luminous presence of authority. Castles were not built for defense alone; they were symbols of social status, wealth, power, and intimidation. Kings and queens were not the only people to inhabit castles; noblemen could also construct their own castles.

The art and architecture displayed during the Renaissance showed many influences from the ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Middle age architecture led into humanism and classical antiquity, which is shown through many buildings during that time (Deliyannis). Middle Age architecture was influenced by Romanesque architecture. Their buildings had pointed arches, big windows, bigger buildings and more focus on religious styles (Deliyannis). This is evident through the many cathedrals in England. While Middle Age architecture was influenced by Romanesque architecture, Renaissance architecture was influenced by classical antiquity (Hankins). Classical antiquity is known as the revial of the cultures of Greece and Rome. Renaissance architecture focused on symmetry, proportion and geometry. The Pazzi Chapel in Florence was greatly influenced by classical antiquity (Class Notes). This is shown through the rounded arches and big windows of the building. The architecture from the renaissance and the Middle Ages shows the change of building style and the impacts of the influence they received.

This remarkable improvement in methods indicates the fresh importation of skills from the East and this applies not merely to England but to all Western Europe at that time (“The Flowering” 88). Into three main phases the development of architecture through the period may be divided. The elements of Gothic style and their gradual elaboration over a period of rather more than a century came first at the opening of the 12th century. After the year 1000 there was a fully coordinated Gothic art particularly marked by the invention of windows with baltracy, Jean d’ Orbais probably used it first at Rheims cathedral during the generation following 1211, why the east end was begun. A century followed with classic poise in which an international architecture reached its peak and produce perfect forms of castle and palace, cathedrals enriched with painting patterned tiles, figure sculpture and stained glass (“The Flowering” 92).

The Romanesque and Gothic architecture period both occurred during the Middle Ages with the Gothic period taking place during the later half. Gothic and Romanesque architecture were related in many ways, but they also contrasted in style too. Over time, masons began to test the waters and push the limits. They thought of new ways to add lighting and ways to allow more height to the building without it being to heavy and weak. Many of the reasons for the change in styles had a lot to do with society and the changes it faced. There was a greater intensity occurring in piety and literature. The Gothic style embodied this new urban society. Romanesque and Gothic shared similar characteristics, but Gothic architecture was a greater departure

After Charlemagne’s death in 814, a terrible and dark period of cultural decline and terror ensued. It took a long time for the terror to end and the conquerors of various parts of Charlemagne’s empire to come together and create conditions for peace. With that peace came the Romanesque architecture movement. Now it can be hard to distinguish what exactly Romanesque architecture was

There were two main types of architecture during the middle ages, the Romanesque style and the Gothic style. The Romanesque period took place approximately between 1096 and 1270 (the eleventh and twelfth centuries) and the Gothic period took

The Norman invasion of England in 1066 stands out in British history as the last time the isle was successfully invaded (Kramer.34). The invasion followed as a result of the death of the English king, Edward the Confessor, as he died childless on January the 4. 1066 (Barlett). The throne was left vacant and consequently three most mighty men disputed the line of succession: Harland Goodwinson, the head of one of the most notable and powerful noble families in the whole of England, Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, and William, Duke of Normandy (Wold.5).