Chapter 6 Flashcards
What is Gothic architecture characterized by?
Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.
What is a flying buttress?
An external support structure that allowed for taller buildings with large stained-glass windows.
What does a ribbed vault do?
Distributes weight and allows for higher ceilings in Gothic cathedrals.
What is a pointed arch?
A defining element of Gothic architecture that enabled greater height and more intricate designs.
Name a famous Gothic cathedral known for its flying buttresses.
Notre-Dame de Paris.
What is Chartres Cathedral renowned for?
Its stained-glass windows and harmonious proportions.
What is a rose window?
A large circular stained-glass window commonly found in Gothic cathedrals.
What is the purpose of a gargoyle?
A carved stone creature on Gothic buildings, often serving as a water spout.
Define ‘grotesque’ in the context of Gothic architecture.
A decorative sculpture on Gothic buildings, typically fantastical or monstrous in appearance.
How does Gothic architecture differ from Romanesque architecture?
Gothic architecture emphasized height and light, while Romanesque had thick walls and small windows.
What is the Scholastic Method?
A medieval intellectual approach that sought to reconcile faith with reason, promoted by Thomas Aquinas.
Who was Thomas Aquinas?
A philosopher and theologian who wrote Summa Theologica, integrating Aristotelian logic with Christian doctrine.
What role did universities play in the Middle Ages?
Centers of higher learning, often affiliated with the Church, teaching theology, law, and philosophy.
What are Gothic manuscripts?
Illuminated books with elaborate decorations, often created by monks and scholars.
Who was Hildegard of Bingen?
A mystic and composer who wrote visionary theological works and music.
What is Dante Alighieri known for?
An Italian poet known for The Divine Comedy, which describes a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.
What are the main themes explored in The Divine Comedy?
Justice, sin, and redemption.
Who was Giotto di Bondone?
An Italian painter who pioneered naturalism and depth in frescoes, marking a transition to Renaissance art.
What is fresco painting?
A technique where pigments are applied to wet plaster, used in medieval and Renaissance art.
What was the Black Death?
A devastating plague that reshaped European society and influenced artistic themes of mortality.
What is the Dance of Death (Danse Macabre)?
A medieval artistic theme that depicted death as an unavoidable force affecting all social classes.
Who is known as the ‘Father of Humanism’?
Petrarch.
Define humanism.
A Renaissance intellectual movement emphasizing classical learning and the dignity of the individual.
What is Gothic literature characterized by?
Dark, supernatural storytelling that emerged in later periods but had roots in medieval religious drama.
What is mysticism?
A spiritual tradition emphasizing direct experiences of the divine, prominent in medieval theology.
What are medieval morality plays?
Dramatic performances teaching Christian ethics through allegorical characters.
What was the Ars Nova?
A 14th-century musical movement introducing rhythmic complexity and secular themes.
Who was Guillaume de Machaut?
A composer and poet known for developing polyphonic music in the medieval period.
What is polyphony?
A musical style featuring multiple independent melodic lines, a hallmark of Gothic-era music.
What was the Hundred Years’ War?
A long conflict between England and France, influencing medieval politics and culture.
Who was Joan of Arc?
A French peasant girl who led armies against the English, claiming divine inspiration.
What was the Great Schism?
A split within the Catholic Church where rival popes claimed authority in Rome and Avignon.
What occurred during the Avignon Papacy?
The Pope resided in Avignon, France, rather than in Rome, causing tensions in the Church.
Who was John Wycliffe?
An early reformer who criticized Church corruption and translated the Bible into English.
Who was Jan Hus?
A Czech religious reformer who was executed for challenging Church authority.
What was the impact of Gothic art and architecture on the Renaissance?
Gothic art and architecture influenced the Renaissance, preserving a blend of medieval and classical traditions.
What did the Gutenberg Printing Press revolutionize?
Knowledge dissemination, leading to increased literacy and the spread of Renaissance ideas.
What was the significance of the Fall of Constantinople?
The Ottoman conquest marked the end of the Middle Ages.
Why did Italy become the cultural center of Europe during the Renaissance?
Due to trade, classical heritage, and patronage.
Who was Filippo Brunelleschi?
An architect who designed the dome of Florence Cathedral, pioneering Renaissance engineering.
What did Leon Battista Alberti write about?
Architecture, painting, and perspective.
What characterized early Renaissance art?
Artists like Masaccio and Donatello revived classical realism and human anatomy in their works.
Who was the Medici family?
A powerful banking family in Florence that funded many Renaissance artists and scholars.
Who was Fra Angelico?
A Dominican friar known for his religious frescoes blending Gothic and Renaissance styles.
What was the continuity and change in the transition to Renaissance art?
Gothic naturalism influenced the Renaissance focus on perspective, realism, and individualism.
