Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) | Khan Academy (2024)

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  • victoria aka crafty girl aka cupid

    9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to victoria aka crafty girl aka cupid's post “How come buildings are c...”

    How come buildings are considered art.?

    (6 votes)

    • DC

      9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to DC's post “Because they can be built...”

      Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) | Khan Academy (4)

      Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) | Khan Academy (5)

      Because they can be built beautifully. Many buildings are plain and boring, like a painted wall, but when you turn the architecture, or the paint, into a masterpiece like the Mona Lisa or the Hagia Sophia, it is art, and art by any measure.

      (27 votes)

  • Joe Rue Pighams

    9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to Joe Rue Pighams's post “I thought that the archit...”

    I thought that the architecture had a symbolic meaning. Like how the churches were often in the shape of a cross, I thought that the ribbed vaulting was supposed to look like the inside of the bottom of a boat, referring to how the church is where the spiritual journey takes place.
    Am I wrong or did they just fail to mention this?

    (11 votes)

  • 1315048633

    8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to 1315048633's post “what was the difference b...”

    what was the difference between ribbed vaulting and barrel vaults

    (4 votes)

    • Justin Tang

      8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to Justin Tang's post “Barrel VaultTo understa...”

      Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) | Khan Academy (12)

      Barrel Vault

      To understand the ribbed groin vault, we have to see where it derived from. We can understand it better by looking at the barrel vault and groin vault.

      A barrel vault is the simplest form of a vault. It is a continuous archway with a surface or ceiling that is semi-circular or with a point. It is very similar to a barrel or a tunnel that was cut in half height-wise, hence the name barrel vault. Barrel vaults have existed since the Ancient Egyptians and were commonly used during Roman times.

      Groin Vault

      A groin vault in the simplest definition is an intersection of two barrel vaults positioned in right angles (90 degrees). Groin vaults are stronger than barrel vault structures because barrel vaults must be built on long walls creating less stable lateral stress, whereas the groin vault design can implement stress vertically on piers.

      Ribbed Vault

      In ribbed vaults, stone "ribs" are added to groin vaults where the arris would form. The ribs offer many advantages from functional and structural support to visual enhancements. Groin vaults compared to ribbed vaults are heavier, requiring more support and heavier filling. The stone ribs allow some of the force and pressure from the ceiling to be easily transferred to the columns/pier support below. This allows the structure to use lighter materials for the filling.

      The most important advantage of ribbed vaults is the ability to construct vaults in greater heights. It was very important for architects to achieve a monumental scale to represent the glory of God. The ability to go higher creates a sense of greatness and also allows windows in the structure to be bigger and taller, eliminating walls as a primary form of support. This creates an airy and ethereal atmosphere. Cathedrals would change from dark, massive and heavy buildings to tall elegant structures with a multitude of windows. The Durham Cathedral marks the first building to have ribbed vaults, an important structural element that would help the Gothic style flourish between the 12th and 16th century.

      (10 votes)

  • forreynj

    8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to forreynj's post “What are some additional ...”

    What are some additional resources that go into more detail about the mathematics and engineering behind Gothic architecture?

    (4 votes)

    • drszucker

      8 years agoPosted 8 years ago. Direct link to drszucker's post “Otto von Simson's old but...”

      Otto von Simson's old but wonderful book, The Gothic Cathedral, might be a good place to start. http://press.princeton.edu/titles/4201.html

      (4 votes)

  • Shadia

    9 years agoPosted 9 years ago. Direct link to Shadia's post “I was wondering where on ...”

    I was wondering where on Khan Academy I could find an activity on Gothic Sculpture?

    Also, did the Gothic architecture also reflect on the artwork produced?

    (2 votes)

  • jzhang1

    7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to jzhang1's post “"In fact, the column basi...”

    "In fact, the column basically continued all the way to the roof, and became part of the vault."

    Could someone please explain what a "vault" is? The word reminds me of an attic, or a treasury, but I'm not sure...

    (1 vote)

  • saubhaginimahajan2298

    7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to saubhaginimahajan2298's post “Comparision between st se...”

    Comparision between st sernin toulouse ( romanesque ) and reima catherdral (gothic)?
    Points of comparsion
    Arches
    Vaults
    Buttresses
    Elevation
    Plan
    Lighting
    (Answering what why how ?)

    (1 vote)

    • David Alexander

      7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “I think you can google ea...”

      I think you can google each of these buildings and print out the wikipedia articles to which you are led. Then, using markers or colored pencils, one color for each of your comparative categories, you can find the data you want and make the comparisons. The most important thing you can do is your own homework.

      (2 votes)

  • Camp Girl!!!

    a year agoPosted a year ago. Direct link to Camp Girl!!!'s post “what is the main similari...”

    what is the main similarity between all three churches? Notre Dame, St Denise, and Cathedral of St. John The Baptist?

    (2 votes)

    • David Alexander

      a year agoPosted a year ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Could it be the floor pla...”

      Could it be the floor plan?
      Could it be the placement of the altar within the structure?
      Could it be the style of the towers?
      Consider these three as you view pictures of the structures. I'm sure that you can come up with something.

      (0 votes)

  • Casey.O

    7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to Casey.O's post “How common were Gothic ch...”

    How common were Gothic churches?

    (1 vote)

    • drszucker

      7 years agoPosted 7 years ago. Direct link to drszucker's post “Gothic was the dominant s...”

      Gothic was the dominant style north of the Alps for churches for several hundred years beginning in the 12th century. So yes, Gothic churches was quite common.

      (1 vote)

  • Amber Runkle

    6 years agoPosted 6 years ago. Direct link to Amber Runkle's post “What were some requiremen...”

    What were some requirements of cathedrals?

    (1 vote)

    • David Alexander

      6 years agoPosted 6 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “A cathedral is the offici...”

      A cathedral is the official throne of the bishop. It is nothing but a chair. A cathedral church is the building in which the bishop's chair is located. That being the case, the "requirement" of a cathedral church is that it be the headquarters of the bishop, who administers that region and all the churches in it, and that the church itself be large enough to hold the chair, the bishop who sits in it, and any other people who might be present for ceremonies associated with the administrative and ecclesiastical duties performed there.
      I live in Tainan, Taiwan, where the local cathedral church is rather modest. In fact, it's smaller in scale than some of the local parish church buildings.

      (1 vote)

Gothic architecture: an introduction (article) | Khan Academy (2024)

FAQs

What are the key points of Gothic architecture? ›

The main characteristics of Gothic architecture include pointed arches, stained-glass windows, flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and spires.

How did sugar change the ambulatory at St. Denis? ›

Suger's great innovation in the new choir was the replacement of the heavy dividing walls in the apse and ambulatory with slender columns, so that the interior of that part of the church was filled with light.

What were the two major characteristics of Gothic architecture group of answer choices? ›

The defining design element of Gothic architecture is the pointed or ogival arch. The use of the pointed arch in turn led to the development of the pointed rib vault and flying buttresses, combined with elaborate tracery and stained glass windows.

What is Gothic in Spain? ›

Spanish Gothic architecture is the style of architecture prevalent in Spain in the Late Medieval period. León Cathedral, a fine example of Gothic architecture in Spain.

What are the three 3 features that make Gothic architecture Gothic? ›

Gothic Cathedrals – 3 main architectural components

To create all of these beautiful characteristics, Gothic architecture relied on three features: pointed arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses.

Why is St. Denis holding his head? ›

Saint Denis holding his head. Statue at the left portal of Notre Dame de Paris. Denis is the most famous cephalophore in Christian history, with a popular story claiming that the decapitated bishop picked up his head and walked several miles while preaching a sermon on repentance.

What are two of the things Suger hoped to add to St. Denis with his remodeling? ›

Suger's renovations included classic Gothic elements, including pointed arches, flying buttresses, clustered columns, and most importantly, space for stained glass windows.

Why is St. Denis important to the Gothic style? ›

What is the significance of the Basilica of Saint-Denis? The Basilica of Saint-Denis is considered the first church completed in the Gothic style. Abbot Suger supervised construction dedicated to fulfilling his vision of a worship space suffused with light and soaring ceilings.

Why did Gothic architecture end? ›

In Europe, the era of gothic architecture came to an end with the Renaissance. Tastes changed in favor of a return to the more symmetrical and balanced classical Roman architecture.

What influenced Gothic architecture? ›

Romanesque tradition

Gothic architecture grew out of the previous architectural genre, Romanesque. For the most part, there was not a clean break, as there was to be later in Renaissance Florence with the revival of the Classical style in the early 15th century.

Why did Gothic architecture begin? ›

Gothic designs were actually created to bring more sunlight into spaces, mainly churches, and led to the design and construction of some of the world's most iconic buildings.

Is there a female gothic? ›

In her groundbreaking Literary Women (1976), Ellen Moers introduced the term “Female Gothic” to describe how eighteenth- and nineteenth-century women novelists employ certain coded expressions to describe anxieties over domestic entrapment and female sexuality.

What did Gothic originally mean? ›

Gothic originally meant "having to do with the Goths or their language," but its meaning eventually came to encompass all the qualities associated with Germanic culture, especially the Germanic culture dominant during the medieval period after the fall of Rome.

Is A Gothic a religion? ›

Contrary to preconceptions, goth is not a religion and belonging to the scene is not bound to a religion, denomination or faith.

What are the 7 characteristics to identify a Gothic structures? ›

Describe the characteristics of Gothic Architecture.
  • Tall, large designs that are meant to reach through the sky. ...
  • Flying Buttresses. ...
  • Pointed Arches. ...
  • Vaulted Ceilings. ...
  • Airy Interior. ...
  • Gargoyles! ...
  • Decoration.
Jan 27, 2021

What is key for the design and construction of Gothic architecture? ›

Pointed arches were an important characteristic of Gothic architecture that could give the impression of soaring height and more practically they could support heavier loads than the earlier round arches.

What are the key features of Gothic architecture quizlet? ›

What were the basic characteristics of Gothic Architecture? are stone structures, large expanses of glass, clustered columns, sharply pointed spires, intricate sculptures, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. One of their main characteristics is the ogival, or pointed arch.

What does Gothic architecture symbolize? ›

The gothic may be a gamut of disparate architectural styles, but what ties it together is its sacred purpose. The majority of gothic buildings that have survived were built to the glory of God.

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