From my History of Architecture Notes - Rise of European Cities

This post contains notes on the rise of European cities in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Keep reading to get complete information about the factors that influenced the rise of the European cities.

Rise of European Cities

Twelfth Century

Summary Chart

1100-1200 AD

• Events and Developments
• Strong centralized government under monarchs, notably in England and France.
• Increase in population; large scale cultivation of new land.
• Revolt by Byzantine ruled Bulgars (1185)
• Growth of Russian culture, influenced by priests, teachers, artists and architects from Byzantium
• By 1200 most cities Byzantine in character, law based on Byzantine
• Economic and political decline of Byzantium; trade lost to Venice and Genoa; frequent military defeats and consequent reduction of territory.
• People
• Pierre Abelard, French theologian (1079-1142)
• Fredrick Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor (1155-90)
• Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury (1162-70)
• Technology
• Increasing use of windmill
• Simple steering oar replaced by stem-post rudder
• Manufacture of silk, Sicily
• Paper making introduced
• Woodcuts used for initial letters
• First arrival of Chinese porcelain in Middle East
• Religion
• Success of cistercian order; abbeys built all over Europe
• 2nd (1147) and 3rd (1182-92) Crusades directed against Muslims
• Spread of Latin Christianity in Eastern Europe with decline of Byzantine Empire
• Architecture
• Church of St. Denis; Chatres Cathedral; Chateau Gillard, France
• Cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalu; Sicily
• Cathedral of St. George; Novgorod
• Stone Churches, Suzdalia; Cathedral of the Dormition, Vladimir
• Art and Music
• Sculptures by Gislebertus, Autun Cathedral; France
• Mosaics at Monreale, Sicily
• Music in two to four parts developed at Notre Dame, Paris
• Byzantine style wall paintings, Church of Nativity, Bethlehem
• Virgin of Vladimir icon - a strong influence on Russian painting after its arrival in Kiev from Constantinople
• Literature and learning
• Toledo, Spain, centre for translation of ancient texts
• Universities growing at Paris and Oxford; law schools at Pavia and Bologna
• Birth of Russian literature marked by 'The Campaign of Igor' as epic prose poem
• Chronicle of Kiev, Russian historical work

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Rise of European Cities - 12th Century

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Rise of European Cities - 12th Century

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Rise of European Cities - 12th Century

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Rise of European Cities - 12th Century

Thirteenth Century

Map - European cities in the 13th Century

Summary Chart

1200-1300 AD

Western Europe

• Events and Developments
• France most powerful, advanced state
• John of England's Magna Carta (1215)
• Decline of Holy Roman Empire; concession of power in Germany to princes
• Christian reconquest of Spain complete
• Commercial dominance of north Italian city states
• Formation of Hanseatic League, commercial and political alliance of Germanic towns
• Erosion of Feudalism
• People
• Fredrick II, Holy Roman Emperor 1215-50
• Louis IX, French King 1226-70
• St. Thomas Aquinas, medieval philosopher
• Roger Bacon, English Scientist
• Marco Polo, Italian traveller
• Technology
• Introduction of cog (type of cargo vessel)
• Invention of wheel barrow
• Spectacles, spinning wheel in common use
• Minting of gold coins in Italy
• Religion
• Authority of Popes confirmed by 4th Lateran council (1215)
• Declaration of Albigensian Crusade by Pope Innocent III
• Flowering of Catholic Scholastic theology under Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas
• Last phase of Crusades in Holy Land
• Architecture
• Rheims, Amiens Cathedrals, Churches of Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle, Paris
• Florence, Siena Cathedrals, CAstel del Monte
• Welsh Castles
• Cologne Castles
• Art and Music
• Nicola Pisano's pulpits at Pisa and Sienna
• Sculptures at Chartres, Rheims, Strasbourg
• Literature and Learning
• Universities founded at CAmbridge and Padua
• Liber Abaci, account in Latin of arabic numerals

Eastern Europe

• Events and Developments
• Mongol conquest of Russia, Poland and Hungary
• Sack of Kiev (1240)
• Gradual rise of Moscow
• People
• Wencestas I, King of Bohemia (1230-53)
• Alexander Nevski, Prince of Novgorod (1236-63)
• Batu Khan, Mongol ruler of Eastern Europe
• Religion
• Suppression of orthodoxy in Russia by Mongols
• Architecture
• Suzdal Cathedral; Church of St. George, Yuriev-Polsky. Pjatnica Church, Chernigov, Russia
• Art and Music
• Relief Sculptures at Suzdal Cathedral and St. George, Yuriev-Polsky

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Rise of European Cities - 13th Century

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Rise of European Cities - 13th Century

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Rise of European Cities - 13th Century

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Rise of European Cities - 13th Century

Hope you find these notes useful.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Indo Islamic Architecture

This section of the my notes from History of Architecture throws light on development of Indo Islamic Architecture also known as the Sarcenic style covering the time period that was ruled by the 1) Slave dynasty 2) Khiljis 3) Tughluqs 4) Sayyids 5) Lodis and 6) the Mughals.

Page 01 Indo Islamic Architecture -
Introduction

Page 02 Indo Islamic Architecture -
Slave Dynasty, Khiljis, Tughlaqs

Page 03 Indo Islamic Architecture -
Regional Variation

Page 04 Indo Islamic Architecture -
Regional Variation (contd.)

Page 05 Indo Islamic Architecture -
Regional Variation (contd.)

Page 06 Indo Islamic Architecture -
Mughal Empire

The next and probably the last post that will follow Indo-Islamic Architecture, will highlight the development of Islamic Architecture in India. So keep looking out for more information and let me know if they helped you even in some small way. 

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Islamic Architecture

Development of Islamic Architecture

This post is the last one in the series from my History of Architecture Notes and it contains notes on development of Islamic Architecture in India. It includes the chronology of development that took place beginning from the Delhi Sultanates and covers up the architectural character of the buildings, like the tombs and mosques, that took place all over India during this era. 

Sketch of Alai Darwaza

Page 01 Islamic Architecture -
Chronology

Page 02 Islamic Architecture - Developments

Page 03 Islamic Architecture - Early Mosques

Page 04 - Islamic Architecture -
Regional Developments Sketches

Page 05 - Islamic Architecture -
Regional Developments Sketches contd.

This post is the last one of the series from my History of Architecture notes. The notes were made with reference from Sir Bannister Fletcher's book on History of Architecture. 

Hope that these notes may help somebody out there someday.

Do write to me if you find them useful in some way.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Indian Architecture

History of Indian Architecture

Indian Architecture

This posts contains notes on the Evolution of Indian Architecture beginning with the Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic age, Rise of Buddhism and Rock cut Architecture and then discusses the evolution of temples in North and South of India. This also has notes on Vastu purusha Mandala and how it was used in planning of temples. 

Timeline Indian Architecture

Page 01 Indian Architecture -
Indus Valley Civilization
Vedic Age

Page 02 Indian Architecture -
Vedic Age (contd.)

Page 03 Indian Architecture -
Rise of Buddhism, Rock cut Architecture

Page 04 Indian Architecture -
Rise of Buddhism, Stupas

Page 05 Indian Architecture -
Evolution of Temples (North, South)
Temple in its final form

Page 06 Indian Architecture -
Evolution of Temples - Development in North India

Page 07 Indian Architecture -
Evolution of Temples - Development in South India
Vastu Purusha Mandala

Page 08 Indian Architecture -
Evolution of Temples - Development in South India (contd.)

The temple forms got recognition during the Mauryan period. As Buddhists started building stupas in bricks and stones, HIndus started building temples using the same materials. The fundamental architectural form followed the basic concepts of Vastu Purusha Mandala as highlighted in the notes below.

Page 09 Indian Architecture -
Evolution of Temples - Vastu Purusha Mandala
elaborated in temple architecture

Page 10 Indian Architecture -
Evolution of Temples - (contd.)

The temples in South India can be broadly classified as Dravidian and Chalukyan style. These notes below contain the timelines showing the development of temples in South India.

Page 11 Indian Architecture -
Temples in South India - Timeline

Will posts more notes on the Indo Islamic Architecture in the following days. Keep visiting this blog.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Mannerist Architecture

Mannerist Architecture can be categorized as art and architecture style that developed between the High Renaissance and Baroque periods (1520 – 1600). It represents an ideal beauty rather than natural images, using characteristic distortion and exaggeration of human proportions, perspective, etc.

Mannerist Architecture

Page 01 - Mannerist Architecture

Page 02 - Mannerist Architecture

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Baroque and Renaissance Architecture

The 17th Century could be called the first modern age. Human awareness was continuously expanding with many scientific discoveries of Galileo and Copernicus that accounted for astronomical accuracy in many paintings of the time. There was active trade and colonization policies of many European nations accounted for portrayals of exotic places and people. Religion determined many aspects of Baroque art and architecture. Also absolute monarchies of old France and Spain prompted the creation of works that reflected in their size and splendor of majesty of their kings - Louis XIV and Philip IV.
Baroque Architecture


The Baroque buildings, with their undulating walls and decorative surface elements, imply motion with contrasts in light and color. Intense spirituality is present in works of Baroque art; in Roman Catholic countries, for examples scenes of ecstasies, martyrdom or miraculous apparitions are common. Infinite space is suggested in baroque paintings and sculptures. Realism is another integral feature of Baroque art.

These notes has highlights on two different Architectural style: Baroque and Renaissance Architecture

Page 01 Baroque Architecture

Page 02 Baroque Architecture

Page 03 Baroque Architecture

Page 04 Renaissance Architecture

Page 05 Renaissance Architecture

Page 06 Renaissance Architecture

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Gothic Architecture

This post has notes covering the Gothic Architecture in France, Italy, Spain, Evolution of Gothic Vaulting in British Isles and Central Europe. It briefly outlines the architectural character of the cathedrals and churches that existed in that era. It highlights how Gothic Architecture is amalgamation of the Greek inspiration, Roman Construction and Byzantine decoration. Gothic Architecture is mainly characterized by Stained glass windows, Pointed arches, Experiments with flying and pier buttresses.

Page 01 Gothic Architecture -
 France, Italy, Spain

Page 02 Gothic Architecture -
 British Isles

Page 03 Gothic Architecture -
 Central Europe

Some extra notes for Gothic Architecture

Here's another page of notes I found elsewhere and I thought I should club it here with the above notes. 

The Gothic style of architecture that existed from 1200 to 1400 AD can be divided into three distinct categories: Early, High and Late. This picture below from my notes highlights the architectural style that developed during each of the above categories.

Gothic Architecture Style

Hope you find the notes useful.

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