Weekly Question: How do Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express different understandings about religious theology? (Rough Draft due Thursday for peer review -- BTW, a hint: the "opposite" argument would be that the architecture of churches does NOT mean anything about theology).

The churches in the Middle Ages changed in many ways. Our modern churches are very much influenced by the Middle Ages and we still have many of the churches of the Middle Ages. A person can tell the difference in many churches and when they were made. Most churches were made during the time of the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages there was a Catholic movement in the Middle Ages.  The two main types of churches made in the Middle Ages were, the Romanesque and Gothic churches.  The main differences in the churches are: the walls, the windows and the structure of the church.

First the walls are different in the churches.  When people in the dark ages made their churches they were made as fortresses. (Figures 1 and 4) They were made like this so of attacked they could take refuge in the churches. When life in the dark ages settled down many people started to make their churches more extravagant. They had high towers and less walls and more windows. (Figures 2, 3, and 5) These Churches really show the new thoughts of the catholic church during this time. They show how the light of God should always be with you.

Secondly, during the middle ages the whole structure and design of the churches changed. During the early middle ages or dark ages the churches were made to protect people. (Figures 1 and 4) When attacked by other tribes the town would hide inside the church and protect themselves. As many tribes settled down and built their churches. They made them look like the light of God. They made many windows and let lots of light in. (Figures 2, 3, and 5)

Finally, the windows in each church are very different. The churches many differed in their windows. In the Romanesque churches they had very small windows so it could be used to hide in if attacked. (Figures 1 and 4) After the dark ages, the catholic church decided they needed to change and made their churches more in the "Light Of God". They made there churches less of a fortress and more of a "church", by adding huge windows letting the outside light flow in. (Figures 2,3, and 5) 

In conclusion, the churches in the middle ages changed in many ways. The churches in the beginning of the middle ages really showed how scared people were. They had huge churches that were more a fortress then a place to worship God. During the Gothic era they changed their thoughts completely they made the churches more bright and open. They made them a place to worship and praise God. I believe in the beginning of the middle ages the churches were not  made to praise God but to protect themselves. 

Appendix

 

(FIGURE 1)

(FIGURE 2)

                                                                       (FIGURE 3)

                                                                     (FIGURE 4)

                                                                       (FIGURE 5)

All PICTURES FROM WIKIMEDIA