Transcript Middle-Ages

ITCT A. Bordoni PV
Classe 3tB
a.s. 2013/14
 476 A.D.: Fall
of the Roman empire
Poverty and Unsafety
 622 A.D.: Beginning of the Islam expansion
 673 A.D.: Siege of Costantinople
Inventions: Greek fire and stirrups

700 A.D.: Viking invasion ; Irish monks discover Ireland
 800 A.D.: Charlemagne promotes science and education for
all (even for a few women), schools are founded in
monasteries. The lessons are in
Grammar, logic, rhetoric,geometry, arithmetic , astronomy
and music
 Meanwhile in the east a new progress: universities,
discovery of chemical elements, Indian numerals,
kerosene, new canons in medicine and optometry
 1096 A.D.: The crusades
 1139 A.D.: new inventions:
the crossbow
Translation of Greek works into Latin
 1216 A.D.: first univerisities in Europe: Bologna,
Paris,Oxford,Pavia.
New inventions:
windmills,spectacles,compass,spinning wheel
.
The silk road:Marco Polo travelled throughout Asia.
 1350 A.D.: the plague.
 1436 A.D.: new invention: printing press

 1492 A.D.: Columbus discovers America.
 1500 A.D.: The renaissance with Leonardo Da Vinci.
•The Via Francigena is the common name of an ancient road
and pilgrim route running from France to Rome, though it is
usually considered to have its starting point much further away, in
the English cathedral city of Canterbury. As such, the route passes
through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. The route was
known in Italy as the "Via Francigena" ("the road that comes from
France"). In mediaeval times it was an important road
and pilgrimage route for those wishing to visit the Holy See and
the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul.
•The Via Francigena was not a single road, like a Roman road,
paved with stone blocks and provided at intervals with a change of
horses for official travellers. Rather, it comprised several possible
routes that changed over the centuries as trade and pilgrimage
changed. After all, all roads lead to Rome. Depending on the time
of year, the political situation, and the relative popularity of the
shrines of the saints situated along the route, travellers may have
used any of three or four crossings of the Alps and the Appennines.
The Lombards financed the maintenance and security of the
section of road through their territories as a trading route to
Rome, avoiding enemy-held cities such as Florence. Another
important point is that, unlike Roman roads, the Via Francigena
did not connect cities, but relied more on abbeys.
•Today some pilgrims still follow in Sigeric's ancient footsteps and
travel on foot, on horseback or by bicycle on the Via Francigena,
although there are far fewer pilgrims on this route than on
the Way of St. James pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela in
Spain.[10] Roughly only 1,200 pilgrims were estimated to have
walked the VF in 2012. One reason for this is a lack of
infrastructure and suitable support facilities. Affordable pilgrims'
accommodation and other facilities can be hard to come by for
those travelling along the route.
Romanesque architecture is
an architectural style of medieval
Europe characterized by semicircular arches. There is no consensus
for the beginning date of the
Romanesque architecture, with
proposals ranging from the 6th to the
10th century. It developed in the 12th
century into the Gothic style, marked
by pointed arches. Examples of
Romanesque architecture can be
found across the continent, making it
the first pan-European architectural
style since Imperial Roman
Architecture. The Romanesque style
in England is traditionally referred to
as Norman architecture.
CHARACTERISTICS
• WALLS: The walls of Romanesque buildings are often of massive thickness with few and
comparatively small openings. The building stone was often used in comparatively small and irregular
pieces, bedded in thick mortar.
• BUTTRESSES: Romanesque buttresses are generally of flat square profile and do not project a great
deal beyond the wall. In the case of aisled churches, barrel vaults, or half-barrel vaults over the aisles
helped to buttress the nave, if it was vaulted.
In the cases where half-barrel vaults were used, they effectively became like flying buttresses. Often aisles
extended through two storeys, rather than the one usual in Gothic architecture, so as to better support
the weight of a vaulted nave. In the case of Durham Cathedral, flying buttresses have been employed but
are hidden inside the triforium gallery.
• ARCADES: An arcade is a row of arches, supported on piers or columns. They occur in the interior of
large churches, separating the nave from the aisles, and in large secular interior spaces, such as the great
hall of a castle, supporting the timbers of a roof or upper floor. Arcades also occur in cloisters and
atriums, enclosing an open space.
COLUMNS: Columns are an important structural feature of Romanesque architecture. Colonnettes
and attached shafts are also used structurally and for decoration. Monolithic columns cut from a single
piece of stone were frequently used in Italy, as they had been in Roman and Early Christian
architecture. They were also used, particularly in Germany, when they alternated between more massive
piers.
A first church devoted to St.
Michael Archangel was built on the
location of the Lombard Palace chapel,
but it was destroyed by a fire in 1004.
The current construction was begun in
the late 10th century and was completed
by 1155. The basilica was the seat of
numerous important events, including
the coronations of Louis III (900)
and Frederick Barbarossa (1155), among
the others.
San Michele Maggiore can be considered the prototype of other important medieval
churches in Pavia such as San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro and San Teodoro. However, it
differentiates from the others in the use of sandstone instead of bricks, and for the
Latin cross plan with a nave and two aisles and a much extended transept.
The façade has five double and two single mullioned windows and a cross, which are
a 19th-century reconstruction of what was thought to be the original scheme. Bas
reliefs in horizontal bands portray human, animal and fantastic figures.
The façade is decorated by
numerous sandstone sculptures of
religious or profane themes; they
are
however
now
much
deteriorated.
The crypt, with a nave and two aisles, is
located immediately under the altar: it houses
beautifully decorated capitals and the
monument of the Blessed Martino Salimbene.
This church was built in the second half of the 12° century to accommodate the Ultraticino
Hospital, especially meant for the pilgrims to the Holy Land, and for this reason the church and
the hospital were dedicated to the Virgin of Betlem. The pilgrims who came here were housed
and treated if necessary to help them resume their journey. Only an original porch of the south
side of the façade of the old hospital still exists.
The Façade is made of red bricks in
the shape of a hut which is divided in
three parts separated by buttresses
with sandstone carvings.
Around the sloping roof there are
blind galleries and interwoven arcs. In
the centre the sandstone portal is
covered with vines, animals and
dragons. A double lancet window, two
“oeil-de-boeuf”, a cross and a simple
lancet window are the only openings in
the façade.
Santa Maria in Betlem Church,
The Interior is divided in three naves with vault supported by
pillars. At the end of the central nave there is a dome in Lombard
style. The central and right apse were rebuilt in 1953.
In the left apse there is also a fresco of the Virgin Mary sitting on a
throne with the Saints and Alessandro Momoli and his wife a her
feet dating back to 1623.
In the first chapel on the left there is a precious altar of the 18°
century, where a rare group of wooden sculptures is situated.
This group represent the Virgin Mary sitting on the throne and
holding the Infant Jesus. With his right hand he is blessing,
while with the other he is showing an open book with the
famous words “Ego sum lux mundi”. The Virgin of the Star is
renowned and worshipped for her numeros miracles and the
church is visited by a lot of pilgrims still today.
Durham Cathedral is the greatest Norman building in England. It was constructed between 1093
and 1133 in the Romanesque style. It was founded as a monastic cathedral and it is cherished not
only for its architecture but also for its incomparable setting.
The Norman conquest of England in 1066 and its influence on the country contributed to the birth
of the Anglo-Norman style. The culture impact is found everywhere.
The building is notable for the ribbed
vault of the nave roof, with transverse
arches supported by slender piers
alternated with massive columns.
These features appear to be precursors
of the Gothic architecture of Northern
France a few decades later, doubtless
due to the Normans, although the
building is considered Romanesque.
Buttressing made it possible to build
taller buildings and open up the
intervening wall spaces to create
stained glass windows.
Saint Cuthbert's tomb lies at the East
in the Cathedral and it remains a place
of pilgrimage.
The Tower of London is a historic castle on the north bank of the River
Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower
Hamlets. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of
England. The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history.
The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of
the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the
United Kingdom. The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and
was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.
The architecture is Gothic-Norman.
The Imperial State Crown is one of the Crown Jewels of the United
Kingdom and symbolises the sovereignity of the monarch. The crown has
existed in several versions since the 15th century. The modern version of
the Imperial State Crown is of a design somewhat similar to that of St
Edward's Crown, but shorter and encrusted with jewels: it includes a base
of four crosses, above which are four half-arches surmounted by a cross.
Inside there is a purple velvet cap with an ermine border. The Imperial
State Crown includes many precious gems, including 2,868 diamonds:
pearls, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies.
The crown includes several famous jewels and Queen Elizabeth’s Pearls.
When it is not in use, it is kept with the other Crown Jewels on display at
the Jewel House in the Tower of London.
Abbiati Giada
Autelitano Lucia
Bargiggia Michela
Bergonzi Sara
Botto Noemi
Di Dedda Egle
Ferrari Veronica
Francavilla Gaia
Ghisio Irene
Missurini Rebecca
Munari Gianluca
Rando Daniele
Ravelli Daniela
Rocca Clara
Rosario Amanda
Rosti Federica
Sotropa Alexandra
Vanelli Alex
Zacconati Mattia