Essay 2 Final Copy

        Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals are very different styles of architecture. Romanesque cathedrals and Gothic cathedrals expressed different understandings about religious theology. Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals did not express anything about religious theology.

        Romanesque Cathedrals expressed the fortitude of the Christian Religion. Their Cathedrals were designed as places as worship but were also almost like castles. If there were a state of emergency they could easily gather in the Cathedral and be defended. The walls of these Cathedrals were thick and made of stone so that they could withstand battery by fire and other attacks (figure 1). The cathedrals also had towers sits bells that could be rung but were also equipped with slits for archers (figure 2). These cathedrals were heavily protected because they were built in a time of war.

        Gothic Cathedrals were more arty. They were designed to "let the light in". They had big glass windows and the walls were not as thick (figure 4). They were very big as well but do not look as strong as many of the Roman Cathedrals.They had glass windows on all sides. That made the walls very thin and could easily be destroyed if someone tried too. These cathedrals were built at a time of peace and there was not need for the cathedrals to be able to withstand an attack.

          Romanesque Cathedrals floor plans are a lot less complicated (figure 5). They are designed like a cross but there are not many entrances or windows and would be easy to hold of attackers. A Gothic cathedral's floor plan (figure 6) is a lot more complex. There are windows everywhere and if someone was attempting to break in it would be a lot easier than trying to break into an old Romanesque Cathedral.

          Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express many diffrent understandings of religious theology. Romanesque cathedrals are built for more safety and less artistic appeal because they were constructed in times of war. Gothic cathedrals have a lot of architecture and even though are not very defensive looking they did not have to be because they were not constructed while wars were raging.

Picture Bibliography

(figure one) Cathedral of Salmanca, facade, 11th century Shttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Cathedral_of_Salamanca_Romanesque.jpg/750px-Cathedral_of_Salamanca_Romanesque.jpg, 15 October, 2006 

(figure two) San Zeno, facade, 13th century http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/San_Zeno1.JPG/800px-San_Zeno1.JPG, 21 january 2006

(figure three) Rose Window, Inside, 13th century, http://www.visitingdc.com/images/rose-window.jpg, 13 June, 2000

(figure four) Gothic Cathedral, facade, 14th century http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/P-Gothic-cathedral.png, 9 june 2009

(figure five) Situacio catedral romanica, floorplan, 14th century
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Situaci%C3%B3_catedral_rom%C3%A0nica_Barcelona.png/567px-Situaci%C3%B3_catedral_rom%C3%A0nica_Barcelona.png, 30 october 2007

(figure six) Gothic Cathedral Parts, overview, 12th centuryhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Gothic-Cathedral-parts002.jpg/517px-Gothic-Cathedral-parts002.jpg, 7 February 2010