Early Christian, Byzantine, and Romanesque Flashcards
Christianity became the official religion
313 CE
Constantinople (Istanbul) became the capital of the Roman Empire
330 CE
Decline period for the Roman Empire
400 CE
fall of constantinople
453
Early Medieval (Dark ages) Feudal system
476-1100
Later Middle Ages
1100-1453
Plague of Justinian (Pandemic wiped 25 million people in the Middle East and the Mediterranean)
541-2
Charlemagne crowned emperor
800
The Council of Aachen
816
The Plan of Saint Gall
830
Saeculum Obscurum (The Dark Age: A period of corrupt popes)
904-964
Great Schism: Official break between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church
1054
First Crusade to recapture the Holy Land
1095 CE
three estate model - social classes
clergy, nobility, peasants
how to tell social construct of culture
Look at spaces and architecture for social construct and privacy
Roman basilica transformed into…
Christian Church
early Christian basilica church
High central nave
at the end was the alter
On either side of the naves, were aisles
Clerestory windows provided natural light for the nave
Masonry walls, wooden roof system
Change in height and row of columns provided a clear separation between nave and aisles
early Christian basilica church columns
Columns based on classical orders, sometimes Ionic but mostly Corinthian
vault types
barrel vault / tunnel vault
Transition from square room to a dome
Must keep the structural integrity of the dome
Flying buttresses helped keep the structure
90 degree to curve fix
Squinch
a triangular corner that supports the base of a dome
Pendentive
a constructional device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square room or of an elliptical dome over a rectangular room.
what is special about a Pendentive
more than likely had something to do with the Byzantine
Religious Buildings with central planning
radial symmetry
Basilican model
Bilateral symmetry
How did countries get their lower class to believe in a religion
Illustration of religious events taught generally illiterate public
Richly decorated interiors with mosaics, colored marble were from
more than likely had something to do with the Byzantine
how to increase natural light in religious buildings
Row of windows on the dome
Dome with windows all the way around used a lot
what were domes lined with windows from
Ottoman Empire
what visual trick did windows in a dome play
Windows make space and dome feel lighter
Dome almost visually floats
Byzantine used what two features in their designs
Flying buttresses and pendentives
Santa Costanza
Rome, 350
Santa Costanza floor plan
Circular floor plan
No need to worry about corners and dome connection
Additive qualities
adds multiple elements to make the whole
Santa Costanza original design
Originally designed as the tomb of Constantine’s daughters
Santa Costanza
Rome, 350
San Vitale
532 - 548 Ravenna, Italy
Architectural shell
Buildings don’t always look the from the inside and outside
Dosseret
a clearly defined block resting on the capital of a column and serving as an extra impost in Byzantine and Romanesque architecture
Mosaic of Empress Theodora and attendants
San Vitale Italy c. 547
what is special about mosaics of this time
No depth or perspective
Kind of perspective and elevation
Tries with layering of people and the fabrics they are wearing
How is social status and hierarchy shown in mosaics
Most important people shown in the front
Basilica Cistern
Istanbul, Turkey 532
where is the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, Turkey
Underground - safe way to keep water without it getting poisoned
Hagia Sophia
Istanbul, Turkey 532-537
changes made to Hagia Sophia when changed to mosque
Minarets added in conversion to mosque and White washed walls to cover mosaics
why is Hagia Sophia a highly political site
Turned to museum - some want it to stay a religious space / several religions involved
Hagia Sophia Ottoman Elements
Marble squares and circular “signs”
How does the Hagia Sophia represent both religions
Today Christian mosaics are exposed and ottoman artifact still exist
Sequencing of spaces at Hagia Sophia
Each on opens up bigger than the previous one
SS. Sergius and Bacchus
Istanbul 527 CE
which building was a trial for Hagia Sophia
SS. Sergius and Bacchus
Hagia Irene
Istanbul, Turkey 548
Hagia Irene first build
by Constantine I
Hagia Irene rebuild
expanded after the fire by Constantine II
Hagia Irene 404 program
After the destruction of Hagia Sophia, temporarily functioned as a cathedral
Hagia Irene last rebuild
Rebuilt by Justinian (527-565)
Maria
Cosmedin, Rome 772 - 795 CE
St. Gall
The earliest preserved and most extraordinary visualization of a building complex produced in the Middle Ages
St. Gall Plan
created at the monastery of Reichenau sometime in the period 819 - 826 CE
St. Gall multi-use program
Constant work prevented community from doing devilish things
Abbey of S. Gall
Switzerland c. 820-19th century
Why is the Abbey of S. Gall hard to date
Not all Romanesque and has baroque elements / Rebuilt in 1755-1768
Chora Church
Istanbul, Turkey (4th century) 11th
Romanesque Architecture origin
There is no consensus about when it started
6th - late 11th century
Romanesque Architecture elements
Cut stone construction
Use of arches, vaults (barrel, tunnel, and groin), buttresses
Smaller windows
Stone roofs instead of wooden (barrel vaults over a long church nave)
Generally symmetrical plans
Less decorated exteriors and interiors compared to Gothic
Each significant space has a separate form which can be perceived from outside
Castles, churches and monasteries power dynamic
Nobility and clergy have all the power
what did Romanesque Architecture start to do
Use of stained glass
Gothic uses more
Saint Marco
Italy 1063-1073
Saint Marco element
Use of pendentives
Odo von Metz program
Palatine chapel
Odo von Metz
Germany 798
S. Michael’s
Hildesheim, Germany 1010-1033
S. Miniato al Monte
Italy 1018-1062
Most daring country in architecture at the time
Italy
next most daring country in architecture at the time
France
Church of S. Foy
France 1050-1120
Abbey church of La Madeleine
France 1104-1132
Abbey of Mont S. Michel
France 1017
what do all abbeys have
All have strong use of natural light / connects to nature
Durham Cathedral
England 1110-1133
St. Andrew’s Church
Norway 1150
what does St. Andrew’s Church show
adaptation of previous designs to a new culture
Hedingham Castle
England, 1140
Hedingham Castle walls
Thick walls affect the natural light
Boundary between interior and exterior was very important
Hedingham Castle structure
Lighter elements at the top and heavy elements at the bottom
why can furniture mess up the dating of a building
furniture can be added later so look at architecture for dating
Monastery of St. Martin du Canigou
France 1007-1026
Monastery design reasons
Not luxurious space
Meant for god to be more important
Abby of Le Thoronet
France 1130
