Medieval and Early Christian Architecture .

Medieval architecture refers to structures built in Europe during the Middle Ages. This historical period lasted from the A.D. 400’s to the 1500’s. The intellectual and spiritual life of medieval Europe centered on the Christian church, and so nearly all architects designed churches, monasteries, and other religious buildings. Castles, fortresses, and other nonreligious structures were also built.

Medieval architects developed a number of styles. The Byzantine style became dominant in eastern Europe. In western Europe, the leading styles were the Carolingian, the Romanesque, and the Gothic. All four styles were preceded by early Christian architecture, which flourished from the 300’s to the 500’s.

Early Christian architecture. During the early centuries of Christianity, a number of regional cultures - and regional architectural styles - developed in Europe and the Middle East. But almost all early Christian architects borrowed heavily from the Romans and used the arch and vault. They based the chief type of church design, the basilica, on large Roman halls that were used for public meetings.

Old St. Peter’s Church (begun about 330) was probably the first important early Christian basilica. It stood on the site of the present St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Worshipers entered Old St. Peter’s from the eastern end. To reach the entrance, they passed through a large open courtyard called the atrium and a vestibule called the narthex. The atrium and narthex separated the noisy city from the quiet church. The plan of the interior resembled the shape of a T. A semicircular space called the apse opened from the centre of the transept at the western end of the church. The apse, which was covered by a half dome, contained the main altar.

In many basilicas, colonnades and arcades separated the interior into a nave and side aisles. The exteriors of most basilicas were plain brick or stone, but the interiors glowed with brilliant mosaics and frescoes. Mosaics consist of small pieces of glass, marble, or stone fitted together to form a picture or design. Frescoes are wall- paintings created on damp plaster.

Early Christian churches were built, in most cases, on the oblong basilica plan or the round or many-sided centralized plan. Old St. Peter’s, below, which stood on the site of the present St. Peter’s in Rome, was the best-known early Christian basilica. It was begun about 330. San Vitale, above, a typical centralized church, was built in Ravenna, Italy, in the mid-500’s. It still stands.

№3. Answer the questions given below.

1) What did the intellectual and spiritual life of medieval Europe centre on?

2) What did the architects design?

3) What style became dominant in eastern Europe?

4) When did early Christian architecture flourish?

5) What was the chief type of church design?

6) What was the first important early Christian basilica?

7) Where was the main altar situated?

8) What do mosaics consist of?

9) What are frescoes?

№4. Explain the meaning of the following words:

· basilica;

· atrium;

· narthex;

· nave;

· transept;

· apse.

№5. Complete these sentences.

1. Medieval architects developed ………………………..

2. Mosaics consist of …………………..

3. Almost all early Christian architects used ………………..

4. Old St. Peter’s Church was probably ………………………

5. The interiors of most basilicas glowed with …………………….

6. Frescoes are ………………………………………

7. Early Christian architects based their chief type of church design on …………………………………………