Gothic Architecture
By: Eunice
Gothic Architecture started out during the high and late Middle Ages when Clerics began to claim for bigger buildings with extra windows. The middle class had to do a lot with it too since they wanted churches that were appropriate for their social status. This architecture resulted from Romanesque architecture in the 12th century and it is mainly based on religion. With this new type of architecture they wanted to leave behind the boring style of the Romanesque. They wanted to create a new style that could be similar to heaven. This type of style was known as “The French Style” and was later referred to as Gothic that meant vandal. This term was used by Giorgio Vasari to put them down. The
things that distinguish Gothic architecture are its pointed arches, the ribbed vaults and flying buttresses (which are usually found on cathedrals). You can actually see this type of architecture in castles, palaces, universities, town halls but mainly in cathedrals and parish churches of Europe. In fact this is where you can see gothic architecture expressed more in detail. Some examples of this are 
the Milan Cathedral in Italy, the Church of St. Denis in Paris, and the Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle in France. Many of these structures are tall and wide with huge windows that let in a lot of light. This are also some of the characteristics of a gothic building. But why would they have those enormous windows? Well, back then they would think that the light coming in was a sign to evoke a spiritual feeling. They believed this because the light would shine down on the religious images painted inside the cathedrals or churches.
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