2.2 PRES Medieval Times

2.2 MEDIEVAL TIMES URBS 110

• Course Title: The City

• Instructor: Dr. Beth A. Wielde

• Institution: Heidelberg Urban and Regional Studies Institute, Minnesota State University, Mankato

MEDIEVAL CITIES

• Western Europe Post-Rome:

  • Fall of Rome led to loss of modernizing technologies (e.g., running water, public baths).

  • Decline of centralized governance and territorial integrity.

  • Rise of Christianity; establishment of new governance by the Catholic Church.

  • Emergence of the Pope as a central authority.

• Cultural Reference: Monty Python and the Holy Grail highlights medieval themes.

CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT INTERTWINED

• Governance wasn’t purely ecclesiastical.

• Church organized spiritual governance; cities still needed secular leadership.

• Local governance evolved from Roman structures and village organizations.

• Emergence of kings, emperors, and strongmen as political leaders alongside the Church.

CHURCH AND STATE

• Kings often sought Church approval on important matters (e.g., marriages, wars).

• Close relationship between kings and the Church, influencing governance and public policy.

• Papal Influence: Kings aimed to gain favor for spiritual backing.

MEDIEVAL CITY PLANNING – ORGANIC PLAN

• Post-Rome City Design:

  • Shift from structured Roman grid plans to organic, unplanned layouts.

  • Streets evolved organically based on foot traffic; narrow and winding.

  • Difficult navigation for outsiders; exemplified by cities like Siena.

ORGANIC PLANS FOR DEFENSE

• Organic street layout served strategic military purposes during turmoil.

• Defense Mechanism:

  • Confused enemies in unfamiliar streets, making lays of ambush easier.Approximately

  • Cities became fortified, relying on street designs to protect against invasions.

WALLING IN THE ORGANIC PLAN

• Defensive Architecture:

  • High stone walls served as the first line of defense.

  • Walls designed with thick cores of loose material to slow down attackers.

  • Example: Walls of Nordlingen, Germany.

MEDIEVAL CITY WALLS

• Control of entry points and security through gates.

• Guards monitored entrants; strangers interrogated before entering.

• Defensive features included parapets, crenels, thick walls, and moats.

• Importance of city walls in protecting the community from attack.

WALLS STILL VISIBLE TODAY

• Satellite imagery illustrates modern city expansion beyond old walls.

• Walls often surrounded the oldest parts of cities, maintaining the organic layout.

ARROW LOOPS

• Defenders used arrow loops for strategic defense during attacks.

• Design allowed archer accessibility while minimizing enemy counter-fire.

PARAPET AND CRENEL

• Parapets provided coverage for archers from enemy fire, a staple of medieval architecture.

WALL GATEHOUSE

• Entry points functioned similarly to ancient Roman gates.

• Ensured legitimacy of visitors’ presence and maintained community safety.

WATER SYSTEMS

• Example: London’s water systems evolved from Roman practices.

• Reliance on rivers and springs; shallow wells used for water access.

• By early 1200s, systems faced contamination issues.

CONDUIT HOUSES – MOVING WATER

• Water conduits connected springs to cisterns, piping fresh water into cities.

GETTING WATER TO THE PEOPLE

• Water carriers emerged as a profession to fetch water and serve neighborhoods.

MOVING WATER OUT

• Medieval streets had gutters for wastewater drainage, often leading to river contamination.

ELEMENTS OF MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE - BUILDINGS OF THE EVERYMAN

• Use of locally sourced materials characterized architectural practices.

• Features commonly included thatched roofs, wattle and daub, half timber, and cantilevers.

THATCHED ROOF

• Made from local grasses and reeds; provided insulation and weather resistance.

WATTLE AND DAUB

• Structural method for wall filling, creating sturdy partitions through woven lattices.

HALF TIMBER

• Exposed wooden frames that highlight structural support; became aesthetic norm.

CANTILEVER

• Utilitarian design technique that optimized street usage while providing living space above.

CASTLE TYPES

• Human Necessity: Castles served multiple purposes: fortification, governance, and nobility residence.

CASTLE EVOLUTION AND TYPES

1. Motte and Bailey

2. Stone Keep

3. Concentric Castle

4. Manor House

TYPE #1: MOTTE AND BAILEY

• Consisted of wooden buildings on elevated terrain, surrounded by walls.

TYPE #2: STONE KEEP

• Solid construction with fortified walls; served as both residence and administrative center.

TYPE #3: CONCENTRIC CASTLE

• Multiple layers of walls for enhanced defense against siege.

TYPE #4: MANOR HOUSE

• Evolved into a luxurious residence reflecting societal shifts in defense needs.

CATHEDRALS - ECONOMIC FACTORS

• Cathedrals represented economic drive and religious importance within communities.

CATHEDRALS – DOMINATION OF URBAN LANDSCAPE

• Cathedrals towered over towns, doubling as trade and pilgrimage centers.

'GOTHIC' RISE OF THE BUTTRESS

• Key features of Gothic buildings: buttresses and flying buttresses for structural support.

OTHER GOTHIC CATHEDRAL ELEMENTS - CRUCIFORM

• Cathedral floor plans often reflected the cruciform design, emphasizing Christian symbolism.

DOUBLE ROOF

• Incorporates a wooden roof protecting the interior stone structure from fire and water damage.

BARREL VAULT & CROSS VAULT

• Architectural methods employed to create high and dramatic interior spaces in Gothic cathedrals.

GARGOYLES V. GROTESQUE

• Distinctions between functional gargoyles and purely decorative grotesques.

ROSE WINDOW

• Iconic stained glass elements narrating biblical stories and enhancing spiritual connections.

TRACERY WINDOWS

• Architectural design creating visually delicate window structures, common in Gothic architecture.

FOIL WINDOWS

• Decorative windows ranging in design based on petal count, further enhancing gothic styles.

MEDIEVAL INFLUENCES ON MODERN SOCIETY

• Elements of medieval architecture still visible in contemporary buildings; inspired Renaissance aesthetics.