The Art and Architecture of Early Medieval Europe

The Art and Architecture of Early Medieval Europe

·                Medieval Europe saw the development of different styles of architecture throughout different regions of the Continent. Although many of these architectural styles shared common features, they were also unique in their own respect.

·                Western Europe, for instance, had a shared Roman heritage of architecture but regions such as the Holy Roman Empire and the Iberian Peninsula evolved significantly different styles of construction.

·                The British Isles in the North evolved their own style of construction in the Anglo-Saxon period from the 6th to 11th century and then embraced a new style under the Normans. Such ever-changing social and political currents greatly shaped medieval architecture in Europe.

Anglo Saxon Architecture

·                Anglo Saxon architecture was the style of architecture used by the Germanic Anglo-Saxons in England from the 5th to 11th centuries.

·                Early Anglo-Saxon architecture reflected Roman and Celtic influence although the style was unique for its use of many new features.

·                From 8th century onwards, Anglo-Saxon architecture was also influenced by the Vikings and their subsequent descendants, the Normans.

·                Notable extant examples of this style of architecture include The Stow Minister Church in Lincolnshire and Odda’s Chapel in Gloucestershire.

Byzantine Architecture

·                Byzantine architecture was the unique style of architecture that developed in the Byzantine Empire from 4th to 15th centuries. This style of architecture was a harmonious and masterly blend of Roman heritage, Christian themes and oriental influences.

·                The Byzantine architecture was noted for the use of huge and complex domes and huge mosaics which formed a regular part of the interior decoration of the Empire’s major buildings.

·                Some of the most iconic buildings which define the Byzantine architecture were erected during the reign of Emperor Justinian The Great in the 6th century. These include the magnificent Hagia Sophia in modern-day Istanbul.

Carolingian Architecture

·                Carolingian Empire rose from the ashes of the Roman Empire in Western Europe and remained the most powerful entity in Europe during late 8th and most of the 9th centuries.

·                A part of this Renaissance was the unique Carolingian architecture which incorporated aspects of Roman and Byzantine architecture but evolved a unique style of its own.

·                Notable architectural features which were uniquely Carolingian include the use of a western façade called west work, the employment of heavy piers to help construct heavier walls and the specific style of piers in church buildings.

Holy Roman Empire Architecture

·                Holy Roman Empire architecture was the style of architecture which evolved in Central Europe from the 10th to 19th centuries.

·                Although Holy Roman Empire architecture employed pre-Romanesque style in the construction of many early buildings, it was in the Gothic style that some of the most enduring examples of Holy Roman Empire architecture exist.

·                A number of Renaissance and later, Baroque-style buildings were also constructed in the Empire.

Norman Architecture

·                Normans were descendants of Vikings who settled in Normandy in the 10th century and by the 11th century, had invaded many territories in Western Europe including England, Sicily, southern Italy, Ireland and Scotland.

·                Norman architecture evolved differently in different regions. In England, some of the most notable examples of Norman architecture include 11th-century stone castles. Similarly, in Sicily Norman architecture accepted Byzantine as well as Moorish influences, resulting in a beautiful blend.

·        Normans typically employed the Romanesque arch in construction and were among the first to make use of stone keeps, essentially laying the foundations of the medieval castle-building.

Moorish Architecture

·                Moorish architecture refers to the style of architecture employed by the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula. The Moors invaded Iberia in early 8th century and continued to rule on the southern end of Iberia until the 15th century.

·                Moorish architecture was a blend of Arab-Berber heritage of the Moors, local Visigoth heritage of Iberia and influences from north-Western Frankish territories. This style of architecture was marked by the unique use of a horseshoe arch, large courtyards, sizable domes and highly intricate honeycomb vaults.

·                Many examples of Moorish architecture can be found in modern-day Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Tunisia. Most notable among these is the Alhambra Palace in Granada which dates back to late medieval period.

Tudor Architecture

·                Tudor architecture refers to the style of architecture which evolved during the reign of Tudor monarchs. The Tudor era lasted from 1485 to 1603.

·                All these contributed to the development of the unique Tudor architecture. This style of architecture used many unique features such as the four-centered Tudor arch and oriel windows.

·                Tudor architecture itself evolved significantly between the reign of Henry Tudor who founded the Tudor dynasty and that of Queen Elizabeth who was the final Tudor monarch.