Drewen Human Geography: Weekly 8 Rough Draft

Konnor Drewen

4/25/011

How do Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express different understandings about religious theology?

Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals had different understandings of theology mostly because of the time period. Mankind evolves to match its environment in more ways than just physically, but spiritually. When there is a time that people need protection, either from the physical or the religious, they need a place to protect them. Mankind has been turning to the church for hundreds of years. On the other hand when there is a time of relative peace, well then a church is no longer needed to also be a fortress. They can become a more spiritual place. By just looking at a Romanesque or Gothic Cathedral there are distinct differences; Gothic is furthering divine enlightenment, Romanesque is preparing for Judgment Day. The Cathedrals do not have significance.

The first area of change that a person could see is the façade, or front of the Cathedral. In a Romanesque Cathedral there are large walls with high windows. The walls of the Cathedral, correspondingly, are also exceptionally thick. They were this way almost certainly to keep out invaders (Fig. 1). The façade of a Gothic Cathedral are different in that they are less defensive. They had low widows, and one large circular window, this allowed a large amount of light in. The walls of the Gothic Cathedrals are also much thinner. The building itself is more elegant in its design (Fig. 2).

The reason for these incredibly different designs in structure is fear. During the 9^th – 11^th centuries, it was a time of struggle. The people in towns needed a place to be held up in to survive an onslaught if one accord. In that time religious members also believed that Judgment Day was near. They designed the Romanesque Cathedral, a building that could withstand an attack (Fig. 3). The designs for a Gothic Cathedral are less protective. The large windows and ingenious use of stained glass allowed for a more graceful appearance. Surely this was the acme of the religious life of the citizens of that era (Fig. 4).

The second area of a Romanesque/Gothic Cathedral that should be shown interest is the interior. In the Romanesque Cathedrals the interior is a little darker with less design. The pillars of the Romanesque Cathedrals are burly and look as if they were made to defend and support (Fig. 5). In the Gothic Cathedrals, alternatively, the interior has greater sophistication. The Gothic detail on the pillars leaves behind the gruff exterior of the Romanesque period and brings forth a new and more chic scheme of the Cathedral. This change creates less of a battle ready fortress, and more of a beautiful, and spiritual place (Fig. 6).

When change occurs in the history of Mankind; Mankind must change with it. If the change means more defenses are needed, then build bigger walls. If defense is no longer needed, then change the walls to make it appear additionally attractive. This is how the Cathedrals express the different religious beliefs. Through the different architecture of the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals, people throughout time have been able to save, defend, and believe.

Appendix

Figure 1

Trier cathedral, façade, 9th century, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dom_St._Peter,_Trier.jpg, photo taken in 2007

Figure 2

Strassburg Westfassade, façade, 12th century, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strassburg_Westfassade_Detail.jpg, photo taken in 2005

Figure 3

Rochester Cathedral, facade, 10th century, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rochester_Cathedral_from_the_Castle,_The_Romanesque_Facade.jpg, photo taken in 2010