Final Draft: Weekly #8

 How do Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express different understandings about religious theology?

            The Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals took place from roughly the ninth to fourteenth centuries. They were used to express different people’s views of religion. The Romanesque buildings were also used for protection. This also showed that the different buildings affected the worship of Christians. These buildings mainly originated in Europe. Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals both express different understandings about 

religious theology, and led the way for the changes and differences in Christianity.

            Romanesque architecture gets its name from Roman architecture because they are both a little alike. This period began in the ninth century when the economy was good enough to begin building good churches. These buildings were made of stone, in order to protect the people in case of an emergency in the town (see figure 1). The Romanesque churches far outnumbered the number of castles at this time, even though many castle were being built. Romanesque architecture had rounded arched and windows. These buildings were used more as a form of protection then as a place of worship. Obviously by the way they were built, the Romanesque churches were so that no one could invade the town and hurt people. Even on the inside of the churches, there is not much color (see figure 2). The inside is dark and there were very few windows. There are pillars inside, but not the delicate and beautiful designs that you would imagine; they are think and sturdy once again to symbolize and show the protection. Most of these churches include one large window called a rose window, and arches. All of these accessories and add- in show the strength and meaning of these buildings, and although, this is a much different type of architecture compared to Gothic architecture.

            Gothic architecture came after the Romanesque architecture. The Gothic architecture period lasted from the twelfth to fourteenth century. Gothic churches have many windows. These windows have pointed tops unlike the Romanesque which have rounded tops (see figure 3). Even the arches in the Gothic Architecture were pointed at the top. It showed the elegance and the sophistication of these works of art. The French Christians that worshiped and built these churches wanted to let the light shine in. They believed that God was shining His light and that it needed to be seen. The inside of the Cathedrals are very delicate compared to the Romanesque. They are colorful rather than dark and gloomy (see figure 4). These windows were extreme works of art. They were filled with colorful stained glass and it is easy to see the tedious effort put into this phenomenal building.

            One well known Romanesque Cathedral is the Lisbon Cathedral. It is located in Lisbon Portugal, and has a rose window (see figure 5). Originally, the rose windows were only in the Gothic Cathedrals, but later on in the centuries the buildings began to be remodeled to let more light in. More windows were inserted to keep up with the newer times. This cathedral is a good example of how well- built these cathedrals were because this specific one has survived many earthquakes. A good example of a Gothic Cathedral is the Reims Cathedral (see figure 6). This cathedral is located in France. It is very open and has many windows in order to let light in. There are many statues and inscriptions to represent the important people of the time, and the French’s love for their architecture and religion. Even though Reims Cathedral has been through a few fires, the people are more than willing to build it back up to both a beautiful piece of history and art.

            In conclusion, both Gothic and Romanesque Cathedrals expressed different views of their religion, and they were both built very differently. Both types of cathedrals were used for different things, and the way they were viewed by the people were also different. Even though they both originated from different areas of Europe, people may be able to say that these two did have something in common. They were both created with religion in mind, and in the best interest of the locals who lived there. It is good to be able to continue to 

learn about this today, and carry on the history that has set ground for today’s architecture.

figure 1

figure 2

figure 3

figure 4

figure 5

figure 6

Works Cited

Gothic Architecture - History for Kids!. (n.d.). Kidipede - History for Kids - Homework Help for Middle School. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/

Gothic architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth

File:Reims Kathedrale.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:

File:Se de Lisboa Frente.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Se_

Reims Cathedral - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reim

File:Angouleme cathedral StPierre a.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ango

File:Bruxelles Notre-Dame du Sablon.jpg. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bruxelles_Notre-Dame_du_Sablon.jpg

File:Sainte chapelle - Upper level.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sainte_chapelle_-_Upper_level.jpg

Castle, b., & Lebanon. (n.d.). Romanesque architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romane

ROUGH DRAFT: Weekly 8

   How do Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals express different understandings about religious theology?

            The Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals took place from roughly the ninth to fourteenth centuries. They were used to express different people’s views of religion. This also showed that the different buildings affected the worship of Christians. These buildings mainly originated in Europe. Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals both express different understandings about religious theology, and led the way for the changes and differences in Christianity. Romanesque and Goth Cathedrals are exactly alike and did not lay down any foundation for Christianity.

            Romanesque architecture gets its name from Roman architecture because they are both a little alike. This period began in the ninth century when the economy was good enough to begin building good churches. These buildings were made of stone, in order to protect the people in case of an emergency in the town (see figure 1). The Romanesque churches far outnumbered the number of castles at this time, even though many castle were being built. These buildings were used more as a form of protection then as a place of worship. Obviously by the way they were built, the Romanesque churches were so that no one could invade the town and hurt people. Even on the inside of the churches, there is not much color (see figure 2). The inside is dark and there were very few windows. There are pillars inside, but not the delicate and beautiful designs that you would imagine; they are think and sturdy once again to symbolize and show the protection. Most of these churches include one large window called a rose window, and arches. All of these accessories and add- in show the strength and meaning of these buildings, and although, this is a much different type of architecture compared to Gothic architecture.

            Gothic architecture came after the Romanesque architecture. The Gothic architecture period lasted from the twelfth to fourteenth century. Gothic churches have many windows. These windows have pointed tops unlike the Romanesque which have rounded tops (see figure 3). The French Christians that worshiped and built these churches wanted to let the light shine in. They believed that God was shining His light and that it needed to be seen. The inside of the Cathedrals are very delicate compared to the Romanesque. They are colorful rather than dark and gloomy (see figure 4). These windows were extreme works of art. They were filled with colorful stained glass and it is easy to see the tedious effort put into this phenomenal building.  

            One well known Romanesque Cathedral is the Lisbon Cathedral. It is located in Lisbon Portugal, and has a rose window (see figure 5). This is a good example of how well- built these cathedrals were because this specific one has survived many earthquakes. A good example of a Gothic Cathedral is the Reims Cathedral (see figure 6). This cathedral is located in France. It is very open and has many windows in order to let light in. There are many statues and inscriptions to represent the important people of the time, and the French’s love for their architecture and religion. Even though Reims Cathedral has been through a few fires, the people are more than willing to build it back up to both a beautiful piece of history and art.

            In conclusion, both Gothic and Romanesque Cathedrals expressed different views of their religion, and they were both built very differently. Both types of cathedrals were used for different things, and the way they were viewed by the people were also different. Even though they both originated from different areas of Europe, people may be able to say that these two did have something in common. They were both created with religion in mind, and in the best interest of the locals who lived there. It is good to be able to continue to learn about this today, and carry on the history that has set ground for today’s architecture.

figure 1

figure 2

figure 3

figure 4

figure 5

figue 6

Works Cited

Gothic Architecture - History for Kids!. (n.d.). Kidipede - History for Kids - Homework Help for Middle School. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/

Gothic architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth

File:Reims Kathedrale.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:

File:Se de Lisboa Frente.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Se_

Reims Cathedral - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reim

File:Angouleme cathedral StPierre a.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ango

File:Bruxelles Notre-Dame du Sablon.jpg. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bruxelles_Notre-Dame_du_Sablon.jpg

File:Sainte chapelle - Upper level.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sainte_chapelle_-_Upper_level.jpg

Castle, b., & Lebanon. (n.d.). Romanesque architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romane

Final Draft: Weekly #6

Did the Roman Empire 'decline and fall' or did it evolve into something new?

The Roman Empire is not seen as evolving into something new. The Roman Empire fell because of the issues within its empire. They had many enemies which caused many more people to turn against them. Romans could not agree on many things. People in Rome wanted one thing, and the emperors wanted something different. The Roman Empire declined and fell at this time because of the barbarians; Christianity, and the problems it caused with the non- Christians and the rulers; and the constant changes and disagreement in the government.

Christianity caused a large issue in Rome. A huge part of this was because of the rich people donating money to charities. Edward Gibbon stated that, “The clergy successfully preached the doctrines of patience and pusillanimity; the active virtues of society were discouraged; and the last remains of the military spirit were buried in the cloister; a large portion of public and private wealth was consecrated to the specious demands of charity and devotion; and the soldiers' pay was lavished on the useless multitudes of both sexes, who could only plead the merits of abstinence and chastity” (Gibbon,1). This caused an issue because the rich people were using their money towards their new religion and taking it away from the soldiers. This left the soldiers poor. This ended up in many bloody fights and the upsetting of the emperors. Everything was very bad until Constantine came into the Roman Empire and helped to bring the violence down and started to end this confusion. The problem was, Constantine came much longer before this happened. It shows that his reign may have helped, but it obviously did not stay after many years. Christianity was a positive additive to the Roman Empire, but it ended up causing many problems and creating further decline to the Roman Empire.

One other major problem was them emperors. Gibbon recorded that, “The emperors, anxious for their personal safety…” (Gibbon, 3). They began to not worry as much about the people as they were about Rome. Obviously Rome was not getting better, and it could not and would not get better until the people formed together as one. The emperors were also fighting about powers. Things like tetrarchy, when four people try to work together to rule, and giving the people power, were not working out in the Roman Empire. There were else many disagreement issues. Because there were so many issues with Christianity and the Barbarians, the Romans really needed to form as one.

Gibbon also said, “The endless column of Barbarians pressed on the Roman Empire with accumulated weight; and, if the foremost were destroyed, the vacant space was instantly replenished by new assailants” (Gibbon, 2). This was a huge problem for Rome. When the Romans were already trying to deal with their other problems, they were being taken over by the Barbarians. The Barbarians end up making Rome into Europe. This especially shows how the Roman Empire fell because they could not even defend themselves. Countries, especially ones who want to change their government, should be prepared for tragedies such as this one. Sadly, Rome was not and resulted in this downfall of the country and the overtaking by the Barbarians.

In conclusion, the Roman Empire did fall. The Christians upset many of the Roman people. It caused a lot of conflict and did not go well with many of the powerful people. The emperors caused a huge problem because they were too worried about their power rather than the interest of the people. They did not try to make things work and they were one of the biggest parts of the falling empire. Finally, the barbarians wreaked havoc in Rome. They took over Rome and turned it into Europe. Rome was not prepared for this quick downfall, and did not work hard enough to achieve getting Rome back to a more stable place.

Works Cited

Gibbon, E. (n.d.). Medieval Sourcebook: Gibbon: The Fall of the Roman Empire .FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gibbon-fall.html

Heather, D. P. (2011, February 17). BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: The Fall of Rome. BBC - Homepage. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/a

Rough Draft: Weekly #7

Did the Roman Empire 'decline and fall' or did it evolve into something new?

The Roman Empire is not seen as evolving into something new. The Roman Empire fell because of the issues within its empire. They had many enemies which caused many more people to turn against them. Romans could not agree on many things. People in Rome wanted one thing, and the emperors wanted something different. The Roman Empire declined and fell at this time because of the barbarians, Catholicism, and the constant changes and disagreement in the government. The Roman Empire did not fall and it evolved into something better and new; the barbarians, Catholicism, and changes in the government had noting do with this.

Catholicism caused a large issue in Rome. A huge part of this was because of the rich people donating money to charities. Edward Gibbon stated that, “The clergy successfully preached the doctrines of patience and pusillanimity; the active virtues of society were discouraged; and the last remains of the military spirit were buried in the cloister; a large portion of public and private wealth was consecrated to the specious demands of charity and devotion; and the soldiers' pay was lavished on the useless multitudes of both sexes, who could only plead the merits of abstinence and chastity” (Gibbon,1). This caused an issue because the rich people were using their money towards their new religion and taking it away from the soldiers. This left the soldiers poor. This ended up in many bloody fights and the upsetting of the emperors. Everything was very bad until Constantine came into the Roman Empire and helped to bring the violence down and started to end this confusion. Catholicism was a positive additive to the Roman Empire, but it ended up causing many problems and creating further decline to the Roman Empire.

One other major problem was them emperors. Gibbon recorded that, “The emperors, anxious for their personal safety…” (Gibbon, 3). They began to not worry as much about the people as they were about Rome. Obviously Rome was not getting better, and it could not and would not get better until the people formed together as one. The emperors were also fighting about powers. Things like tetrarchy, when four people try to work together to rule, and giving the people power, were not working out in the Roman Empire. There were else many disagreement issues. Because there were so many issues with Catholicism and the Barbarians, the Romans really needed to form as one.

Gibbon also said, “The endless column of Barbarians pressed on the Roman Empire with accumulated weight; and, if the foremost were destroyed, the vacant space was instantly replenished by new assailants” (Gibbon, 2). This was a huge problem for Rome. When the Romans were already trying to deal with their other problems, they were being taken over by the Barbarians. The Barbarians end up making Rome into Europe. This especially shows how the Roman Empire fell because they could not even defend themselves. Countries, especially ones who want to change their government, should be prepared for tragedies such as this one. Sadly, Rome was not and resulted in this downfall of the country and the overtaking by the Barbarians.

In conclusion, the Roman Empire did fall. The Christians upset many of the Roman people. It caused a lot of conflict and did not go well with many of the powerful people. The emperors caused a huge problem because they were too worried about their power rather than the interest of the people. They did not try to make things work and they were one of the biggest parts of the falling empire. Finally, the barbarians wreaked havoc in Rome. They took over Rome and turned it into Europe. Rome was not prepared for this quick downfall, and did not work hard enough to achieve getting Rome back to a more stable place.

Works Cited

Gibbon, E. (n.d.). Medieval Sourcebook: Gibbon: The Fall of the Roman Empire .FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gibbon-fall.html

Heather, D. P. (2011, February 17). BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: The Fall of Rome. BBC - Homepage. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/a

Week 6: Daily 2 (Essay)

Seneca was a friend of Nero, but was to be executed after being suspected of plotting against him. Seneca was stoic about his death, he showed little pain or care about dying. Stoicism is the ability to endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control one's emotions; Seneca at his death was a perfect example of a stoic.

          Seneca was being condemned to death. According to the Ancient History Sourcebook, "Upon this the tribune asserted that he saw no signs of fear, and perceived no sadness in his words or in his looks."(Tacitus) He did not mind being put to death, and if h did he did not show it. He was also asked if he was meditating suicide. Seneca was asked to go and announce his death. He let no one mourn for him because he didn’t want the sympathy. Seneca seems like a somber person who never showed very much emotion about anything.

          When Seneca was confronted about his death, this is how he was described, "Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will, and, on the centurion's refusal, turned to his friends, protesting that as he was forbidden to requite them, he bequeathed to them the only, but still the noblest possession yet remaining to him, the pattern of his life, which, if they remembered, they would win a name for moral worth and steadfast friendship."(Tacitus) It is interesting to know that when they decided to execute him, the only thing that he wanted or cared about was having a tablet to write his will on. He also was not as worried about his own pain as his wife's.  When he was suffering, he wanted to look and seem strong so that he would not pain his wife too much. He was stoic in this example because he tried not to let the emotional pain of his wife affect him. Seneca also did not show any emotion about his death.

          Seneca was very stoic in the example of pain. He did not let the pain get to him. According to the Ancient History Sourcebook, "Seneca, as his aged frame, attenuated by frugal diet, allowed the blood to escape but slowly, severed also the veins of his legs and knees."(Tacitus) He showed very little pain. He also asked for poison to drink instead to spare his wife the painful process of watching this horrible ordeal. He drank the poison and was taking to a bath and was suffocated. Seneca showed very little emotion, but inside he felt sorrow for his wife and pain for his suffering. Otherwise he would not have been so stoic about everything. Most of his stoicism was to 'pretend' that nothing was bothering him and spare his killers their satisfaction and his family their sadness.

          Seneca was a man of very little emotion. He announced his own death and tortured himself until his suffocation.  The only emotion he really showed was toward his wife. In conclusion, he was a stoic man.  Stoicism is the ability to endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control one's emotions; Seneca at his death was a perfect example of a stoic because he showed little sadness about his death and little emotion about pain, even in the most horrible situations.

Works Cited

Church, A. J., & Brodribb, W. J. (n.d.). Ancient History Sourcebook: Tacitus: The Death of     Seneca. FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved April 5, 2011, from http://www.fordham.edu/HALSALL/ancient/tacitus-ann15a.html

Stoicism

          Seneca was a friend of Nero, but was to be executed after being suspected of plotting against him. Seneca was stoic about his death, he showed little pain or care about dying. Stoicism is the ability to endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control one's emotions; Seneca at his death was a perfect example of a stoic.

          Seneca was being condemned to death. According to the Ancient History Sourcebook, "Upon this the tribune asserted that he saw no signs of fear, and perceived no sadness in his words or in his looks." He did not mind being put to death, and if h did he did not show it. He was also asked if he was meditating suicide. Seneca was asked to go and announce his death. He let no one mourn for him because he didn’t want the sympathy. Seneca seems like a somber person who never showed very much emotion about anything.

          When Seneca was confronted about his death, this is how he was described, "Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will, and, on the centurion's refusal, turned to his friends, protesting that as he was forbidden to requite them, he bequeathed to them the only, but still the noblest possession yet remaining to him, the pattern of his life, which, if they remembered, they would win a name for moral worth and steadfast friendship." It is interesting to know that when they decided to execute him, the only thing that he wanted or cared about was having a tablet to write his will on. He also was not as worried about his own pain as his wife's.  When he was suffering, he wanted to look and seem strong so that he would not pain his wife too much. He was stoic in this example because he tried not to let the emotional pain of his wife affect him. Seneca also did not show any emotion about his death.

          Seneca was very stoic in the example of pain. He did not let the pain get to him. According to the Ancient History Sourcebook, "Seneca, as his aged frame, attenuated by frugal diet, allowed the blood to escape but slowly, severed also the veins of his legs and knees." He showed very little pain. He also asked for poison to drink instead to spare his wife the painful process of watching this horrible ordeal. He drank the poison and was taking to a bath and was suffocated. Seneca showed very little emotion, but inside he felt sorrow for his wife and pain for his suffering. Otherwise he would not have been so stoic about everything. Most of his stoicism was to 'pretend' that nothing was bothering him and spare his killers their satisfaction and his family their sadness.

          Seneca was a man of very little emotion. He announced his own death and tortured himself until his suffocation.  The only emotion he really showed was toward his wife. In conclusion, he was a stoic man.  Stoicism is the ability to endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control one's emotions; Seneca at his death was a perfect example of a stoic because he showed little sadness about his death and little emotion about pain, even in the most horrible situations.

Week 6: Daily 1

Required Daily: Read Tacitus' description of the Death of Seneca and Book One of M. Aurelius' Meditations. Find quotes within those two texts that help explain what Stoicism is all about.
From: Tacitus: The Death of Seneca, 65 CE
"Upon this the tribune asserted that he saw no signs of fear, and perceived no sadness in his words or in his looks."
"But he spared himself the anguish of a word or of a look, and merely sent in to Seneca one of his centurions, who was to announce to him his last doom."
"Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will, and, on the centurion's refusal, turned to his friends, protesting that as he was forbidden to requite them, he bequeathed to them the only, but still the noblest possession yet remaining to him, the pattern of his life, which, if they remembered, they would win a name for moral worth and steadfast friendship."
"Having spoken these and like words, meant, so to say, for all, he embraced his wife; then softening awhile from the stern resolution of the hour, he begged and implored her to spare herself the burden of perpetual sorrow, and, in the contemplation of a life virtuously spent, to endure a husband's loss with honourable consolations."
"Seneca, as his aged frame, attenuated by frugal diet, allowed the blood to escape but slowly, severed also the veins of his legs and knees."
"Seneca meantime, as the tedious process of death still lingered on, begged Statius Annaeus, whom he had long esteemed for his faithful friendship and medical skill, to produce a poison with which he had some time before provided himself, same drug which extinguished the life of those who were condemned by a public sentence of the people of Athens."

From: Marcus Aurelius Antonius: Meditations, 167 CE
"From Diognetus, not to busy myself about trifling things, and not to give credit to what was said by miracle-workers and jugglers about incantations and the driving away of daemons and such things; and not to breed quails for fighting, nor to give myself up passionately to such things; and to endure freedom of speech; and to have become intimate with philosophy;"
".. and to look to nothing else, not even for a moment, except to reason; and to be always the same, in sharp pains, on the occasion of the loss of a child, and in long illness;"
"gravity without affectation"
"and he never showed anger or any other passion"