3SQ102-2-WI11 - Christianity in Western Europe in the Middle Age

Nice article on the interaction with Islamic science & medicine and the translation of ancient texts in the Middle ages. I will upload each page. If anybody would like a pdf version instead, pleas e-mail me

Islam Islam was a religion that originated in the region of Mecca and Medina in the Arabian Peninsula through the revelations of its principal prophet, Mohammed, who lived from about 560 to 632 CE. The revelations ar known to us in Islam's holy book, the Quran. Mohammed was a commercial trader who later became a prophet, political leader and military leader. Islam quickly grew and dominated North Africa and the Near East, taking Christian Holy city of Jerusalem. It was this "occupation" of Jerusalem that would provide the drive for the First Crusade in the High Middle Ages. As the Roman Empire disintegrated under the Germanic invasions, Europe had entered the "Dark Ages" where there was little development of intellectual knowledge. The Islamic nations became the leading developers of scientific and medical progress. The attached article describes the movement of this Islamic knowledge base into the European sphere with the development of the various periods of reformation. The article is presented as individual pages. Please see each entry on this subject.

A Cathedral being built. The Gaudi designed Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, still under construction (for about the last 129 years or so). A fantastic new construction depicting bibical stories especially in statues and carving (St. Petter after the cock crowed thrice), the presence of the Holy Spirit (chreck out the window) and God's creation--natural shapes, waves froim the sea, tree branches, fruits, flowers, you name it.

Cathedrals Cathedrals were important in the Middle Ages as centers of learning and sources of economic well being. Learning was provided through the residence of the great intellectuals and theologians of the time, through cathedral schools for clergy, and through visual and tactile aids to convey the Christian message to the uneducxated massees. Cathedral construction was important in the Carolingian and 12th century Renaissances when the many new cathedrals were built. Cathedral construction often took an extended period spurring economic development by the creation of many jobs and the development of trade with distant lands to provide specialized materials such as marble. The cathedrals also acted as sites of pilgrimage generating further income for the city. The series of photograhs are intersting in that they show a modern`day cathedral under construction in Barcelona. Illustrations are provided of sculpture to convey the Biblical stories and of windows conveying the pressence of the Holy Spirit.

A Cathedral being built. The Gaudi designed Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, still under construction (for about the last 129 years or so). A fantastic new construction depicting bibical stories especially in statues and carving (St. Peter after the cock crowed thrice), the presence of the Holy Spirit (check out the window) and God's creation--natural shapes, waves froim the sea, tree branches, fruits, flowers, you name it.

Colors of the Holy Spirit

Use of statues to convey the Christian story

Cathedral of Auxerre, Nivernais River/Canal, France. Nice flying buttresses...

Butress As cathedral buildings increased in height and weight of the roof, walls were pushed outwards by the forces created. Flying buttresses counteracted this lateral movement by poviding an external force to the outside of the walls. The invention of flying buttresses allowed the construction of cathdrals with larger windows that were an important teaching tool in the Middle ages and especially in the 12th century renaisance period when cathedral building was popular accross Europe.

The main West entrance is flanked by a row of religious statues both around the doorways and across the entire front in a straight line between the doors and rose window.

Aachen was the political center of the Carolingian Empire during Charlemagne's reign. Aachen catheral is interesting because it shows the octagonal construction of the 8th century with the classical Gothic addition on the left hand side with full windows.

The famous leaning tower of Piza is part of the cathedral, built as a separate bell tower