HUM post and responses

Gothic Synthesis

by  Ming Dong  - Saturday, April 18, 2020, 3:59 PM

 

 The Gothic era lasted primarily from 1150 A.D. to the 1400s, with more than 80 cathedrals and 500 large churches built in the  Gothic style . Cathedrals functioned as town centers of not only religion, but also of local government and social gatherings. The massive effort that was required into the construction of the cathedrals helped foster a strong community spirit and pride, and sometimes formed a strong competitive edge with neighboring cathedrals and towns. Gothic Cathedrals were built primarily to contain holy relics and serve as pilgrimage destinations for the faithful, which would help lead into increased traffic and feed into the community's economy and culture. In order to totally understand Gothic form and ideology, it is helpful to look at its predecessor, the Romanesque era.