Contest of the Cathedrals – The Gothic Period (DW Documentary)

Vocabulary flashcards based on notes from the Gothic cathedrals lecture video.

Gothic Period

The era of Gothic cathedrals beginning in the 12th century, defined by innovations like pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and stained glass, emphasizing height and light.

Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis

Abbot who sparked the Gothic revolution around 1144 near Paris, initiating the Gothic transformation.

pointed arches

Arches with a pointed apex that allowed taller, lighter buildings.

ribbed vaults

Vaults with intersecting ribs that distribute weight to supports, enabling thinner walls.

stained glass

Colored glass windows that fill interiors with light and color, symbolizing the divine presence.

skeletal structures

Thin-walled frameworks of columns and arches that create a light, airy silhouette.

buttresses

External supports that transfer weight from walls to adjacent structures.

flying buttresses

Arched supports that carry weight from the walls to distant piers, enabling higher walls.

Strasbourg Cathedral

13th-century example renowned for its large rose window and 'Angel's Pillar,' illustrating competition to build higher and lighter.

rose window

Large circular stained-glass window, a defining feature of many Gothic cathedrals.

Angel's Pillar

Prominent sculptural feature in Strasbourg Cathedral symbolizing ascent to heaven.

master builder

The lead designer-constructer who guided design and construction; plans often drawn on plaster or clay rather than paper.

timber truss

Wooden framework used to support roofs in Gothic construction.

scaffolding

Temporary supports and platforms used during construction.

plaster or clay panels

Surface materials on which plans were drawn, not modern paper.

light as divine presence

Idea that cathedral light embodies the divine.

symphonies of color

Metaphor describing how stained glass fills space with color like music.

Freiburg Minster

Cathedral built over 300 years, owned by citizens (not the Church), funded by guilds, indulgences, and donations; features a tracery spire and ongoing upkeep due to erosion.

tracery

Ornamental stonework in windows forming decorative patterns.

guilds

Craft associations funding church projects and maintenance.

indulgences

Donative funds from religious offerings used to finance cathedrals.

civic pride

Cathedrals served as symbols of city wealth, independence, and prestige.

Count Rudolf of Habsburg

Political ally who supported Strasbourg citizens against the bishop, illustrating the influence of politics on building.

Ulm Minster

Began in 1377 as a citizens' church; completed after 513 years; tallest church in the world at 161.5 meters.

513 years

Duration Ulm Minster took to complete.

tallest church in the world

Ulm Minster's record height of 161.5 meters at completion.

network of builders

Stonemasons and master builders moved across Europe, sharing designs and spreading plans.

plague, famine, floods

14th-century crises that slowed cathedral construction.

Hans Hammer

Late Gothic sculptor whose pulpit for Strasbourg exemplifies late Gothic decorative style.

Protestant Reformation

Movement that rejected Gothic grandeur as impractical, contributing to the decline of Gothic building.