The Cathedral

by William R. Cook (Biography)

The following materials are provided to enhance your learning experience. Click the links below
for free information including a professor-authored course summary, recommended web links,
and a condensed bibliography.
Course Summary - Professor's written description of the course.
Professor Recommended Links
Condensed Bibliography - Prepared by the professor for this course.
Course Summary
The modern mind cannot comprehend the symbolicand realpower that the cathedral has
held for much of the past 2,000 years of Western civilization. Rising to the heavens, a three-
dimensional manifestation of art, science, and religious fervor, a cathedral was the local seat of
power, community, worship, and often economics.
To understand the deep historical, religious, social, and architectural context that makes a
serious study of the cathedral possible, we start at the beginning with the development of
cathedrals: Why did they come about and when? Why did they take on a particular shape? Who
designed and built them, and for what purpose?
After exploring cathedrals from the earliest eras, we will become familiar with the monumental
style of church architecture and decoration that we call Romanesque. We will then turn our
attention to the Gothic style, developed in the area around Paris in the second half of the 12th
century. It became the predominant form of church architecture for the next 300 years and
beyond and is the main focus of our course.
Many of Europe's most famous Gothic cathedrals will be featured, starting with the church
recognized as the first Gothic structure: Saint-Denis in Paris. From there, many of the lectures
will examine the most famous Gothic cathedrals of northern France, including Notre Dame,
Chartres, Amiens, Laon, and Reims. Although that region is considered the birthplace of Gothic,
we will follow the spread of the style to other parts of Europe, including England, Germany,
Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, and even the New World.
Although Gothic architecture is usually associated with pointed arches and flying buttresses, in
fact it contains a wide range of forms, and we will see that no two Gothic churches are alike. So
as we progress, we will look carefully at the "story" of each cathedral: geographic orientation,
local influences, individual stylistic innovations, and unique features, including architectural
design, detailed exterior sculpture, exquisite stained-glass windows, and precious relics.
Although the Gothic era is in some senses long past, we will finish with a look at the Gothic
revival in modern times and the extraordinary array of neo-Gothic buildings found on every
continent and probably in the town or city where you live.
This course is profusely illustrated by 3-D animations and photographs, many of which are from
your professor's own lens, for his photography work rivals that of any professional. Once you
have studied these extraordinary structures, you may very well feel the need to see them in
person, whether you are a first-time visitor or a frequent traveler.
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Professor Recommend Links
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Condensed Bibliography
These selected titles from the reading list are now available on Amazon.com. Click on a title for
more information and/or to order the title.
Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, 4th ed.. Krautheimer, R
A thoroughly researched and well illustrated reference covering the history and
development of Christian architecture over a broad geographic area and a lesser
known but still vitally important historic period.
Heavenly Vaults: From Romanesque to Gothic in European Architecture.
Stephenson, D
A photographer as well as an author, Stephenson provides breathtaking color
photographs of cathedral vaults, as well as interesting commentary on their
construction.
The Cathedral Builders. Gimpel, J
An interesting look at the personalities and politics involved in designing and building the
cathedrals. Contains detailed illustrations.
The Gothic Enterprise. Scott, R
Readable and informative, this text does a marvelous job of tying the development of
Gothic architecture to medieval religious, intellectual, and technological development.
The Medieval World View, 2nd ed.. Cook, W and R Herzman
A short but detailed introductory survey of medieval society, philosophy, art, and
literature. Includes extensive illustrations and a thorough bibliography.
In some cases the only available book from Amazon is a newer edition than the one used by the
professor. The edition used by the professor may be available on the used market.
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