4. THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES

The church was a very rich institution. It controlled big fiefdoms and received high taxes called: “tithe” “diezmos” from the peasants. It consisted on the 10% of the benefits from the crops. With that money the church could maintain itself in the privileged group.

4.1. CHURCH ORGANIZATION

The church was perfectly structured in order to spread religion everywhere.

A group of Christians formed a parish (parroquia), managed by a priest.

A set of parish created a diocese, managed by a bishop.

At the top of the church organization was the Pope.

4.2. THE CLERGY CLASS The clergy group was divided into

two branches: The secular group formed by:

Bishops Priests

The regular group formed by: Abbots, Abbesses: Monks, nuns. This group lived in monasteries, and they

had to respect monastic rules.

5. THE CRUSADES The crusades were a series of holy

wars between European Christians and Muslims in the Middle East that took place from the 11th to 12th centuries.

The aim of these wars was to reclaim the holy lands for Christians, such as Jerusalem, which was controlled by the Turks.

6. THE ROMANASQUE ART

6. ARCHITECTURE: VOCABULARY Floor plan > Planta (de la iglesia, catedral) Latin Cross > Cruz latina Transept > Transepto. It’s the short part of

the cross in a Latin cross floor plan. Nave > Nave. The different corridors of the

church or cathedral. Central Nave > The nave in the middle of the

church. It’s the main one. Apse > Ábside. A semicircular or poligonal

termination or recess in a church, shaped in a half circle or with many sides, usually with a domed roof.

ARCHITECTURE VOCABULARY Ambulatory: girola. It’s an aisle

surrounding the end of a church. Crossing: crucero. It’s the square

formed where the two crosses of a church cross each other.

Bell Tower: campanario Barrel vault: bóveda de cañón. A vault

with the form of a half cylinder. Buttresses: contrafuerte. It’s a support

that is out from the wall of a building to keep it steady.

6.1. ARQUITECTURE The churches were built of stone.

6. ARQUITECTURE The floor plan was in the shape of

a Latin cross

CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Central nave

Buttresses

Apses

portalCrossing

Lateral naves

Transept

Ambulatory

INTERIOR OF A ROMANASQUE CHURCH

Try to identify the parts of the church. You could see:

-Apse-Central Nave-Barrel Vault -Crossing -Altar

Central apse only. And Central apse with lateral apses.

AMBULATORY

THE TYPE OF ARCH In Romanesque art the semi-

circular arch was used. (Arco de medio punto), in fact, it is as a half of a full circle.

S. CLEMENTE DE TAULL (CATALUÑA)

ZAMORA’S CATHEDRAL

PISA’S CATHEDRAL

BUTTRESSES

SANTIAGO´S CATHEDRAL

SCULPTURE The sculptures were used to represent

religious themes, such as sacred events of the Holy Bible.

Didactic purpose. It was meant to teach the Christian beliefs to the people, who were mostly illiterate: not able to read or write.

Most of them were places in the exterior or buildings: doorways of churches and cathedrals. But also in: Columns Capitals

SCULPTURE Sculptures tended to be adapted to the

architectural space. Most of the figures were rigid, static and

inexpressive. The most common themes were religious ones,

such as the “Pantocrat Christ”: in which Christ is represented in the middle of the magic mandorla, with his right hand he is blessing, and with the left he has a sacred book.

Around him there are four symbolic representations of the four evangelists: S.Mateo – an Angel S. Marcos – a Lion S. Lucas - A Bull S. Juan – An Eagle

SCULPTURE IN A DOORWAY Archivolts: arquivoltas. The bands

surrounding an arched opening. Tympanum: tímpano. Semicircular

surface situated between the upper part of a door or window and the arc over it.

PORTAL DE LA GLORIA IN SANTIAGO

Trumeau – Parteluz Jambs

PAINTING The purpose was also didactic. Mural paintings were the only form

of painting, done in fresco. The predominant theme was also

the Pantocrator. Simple colours and black lines. The characters were in rigid poses

and their faces showed no emotion.

PANTOCRATOR OF SAN CLEMENTE DE TAÜLL