The Origins of Medieval Architecture: Building in Europe, A.D 600-900This book is the first devoted to the important innovations in architecture that took place in western Europe between the death of emperor Justinian in A.D. 565 and the tenth century. During this period of transition from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages, the Early Christian basilica was transformed in both form and function.Charles B. McClendon draws on rich documentary evidence and archaeological data to show that the buildings of these three centuries, studied in isolation but rarely together, set substantial precedents for the future of medieval architecture. He looks at buildings of the so-called Dark Ages—monuments that reflected a new assimilation of seemingly antithetical “barbarian” and “classical” attitudes toward architecture and its decoration—and at the grand and innovative architecture of the Carolingian Empire. The great Romanesque and Gothic churches of subsequent centuries owe far more to the architectural achievements of the Early Middle Ages than has generally been recognized, the author argues. |
Contents
Acknowledgments ix | 1 |
The Roman Response to the Cult of Relics | 23 |
Romanitas and the Barbarian West | 35 |
The Christianization of AngloSaxon England | 59 |
S Symbols of the New Alliance | 85 |
The Poles of an Empire | 105 |
Private Patronage and Personal Taste | 129 |
Ideal and Reality | 149 |
The Innovations of Later Carolingian Architecture | 173 |
ΙΟ Epilogue The Architectural Contribution of the Early Middle Ages | 197 |
London | 211 |
Paris | 222 |
Common terms and phrases
Aachen abbey church abbot aisles altar ancient Anglo-Saxon annular crypt apse arch archaeological architecture atrium baptistery basilica Bede bishop building built Byzantine Canterbury capitals Carolingian Carolingian architecture cathedral central Centula chapel Charlemagne church of St cloister Cologne columns Constantine Constantinople construction Corpus Corvey crypt decoration dedicated Early Christian Early Medieval early Middle Ages east end eighth century Einhard emperor Europe example excavations exterior facade Frankish Fulda Gall Gaul Germigny-des-Prés Gregory of Tours hall Hexham Holy idem imperial inscription interior Italy Jarrow Late Antiquity later Lombard Lorsch Louis the Pious masonry Milan monastery monastic monks monuments mosaic nave ninth century original outer crypt palace Paul Peter Plan of St Pope Ravenna reconstruction remains Roman Rome Saint-Denis Saint-Riquier saints seems Seligenstadt seventh century storey structure Theodulf tion tomb Tournus tower transept vaulted Visigothic vols wall Ward-Perkins Wearmouth Werner Jacobsen western westwork Wilfrid