Section outline
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9.4: Art During the Middle Ages
Empires wax and wane throughout time. We call the period between the Fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of science the Middle Ages (500 to 1500). These are useful bookends on the historical timeline, but we can also interpret the Fall of the Roman Empire as the relative decline of its Western capital in Rome and the rise of its Eastern capital in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), which was the center of Byzantine art. It also refers to the period when Christianity had spread throughout all of Europe and many other areas of the world, including Africa, the Middle East, and further.
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Read this excellent introduction to the art that was created during this time of early Christianity. Can you explain the main difference between the art of this era and the preceding ones?
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Read this article, which discusses the importance of the legalization of Christianity by Constantine for the development of Christian art. Note the impact of the political realities on developments in art.
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Watch this video, which describes a mosaic in the church of San Vitale in Ravenna. Byzantine art refers to art that bears the influence of the Byzantine Empire's Christian art style. Mosaic was one of the preferred mediums of Byzantine art. What are the formal qualities of this art form? Why do you think it was a medium of choice during the early stages of Christianity?
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Read this article on the different populations in Europe during the Middle Ages. What did the word Barbarian refer to?
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A fibula (the plural is fibulae) is a brooch or pin used to fasten garments, typically on the right shoulder. Read this article on the formal qualities associated with Barbarian art through examples of one of its common artistic objects.
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This article explores the cultural and artistic developments during the Saxon Empire. What forms remind you of Barbarian art, and what forms remind you of Roman art? What historical background can help explain the varied elements of style present in Ottonian art and architecture?
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The name gives it away: Romanesque architecture is based on Roman architectural elements. The rounded Roman arch is the literal basis for structures built in this style.
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Read this article to understand the role that some forms of sculpture played in Gothic architecture. How does the sculpture of this period differ from earlier ones?
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This article discusses the architectural innovations associated with the Gothic style of architecture. Many of the advances in building techniques that took place during the Gothic period were achieved with the goals of building higher structures and creating brighter interiors.
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