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Age of Cathedrals

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Course Summary

Explore the Age of Cathedrals with this course and take a journey through the artistic, cultural, and religious revolution in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the architecture, art, and society of the Middle Ages
Discover the significance of cathedrals and their role in European history
Understand the religious and cultural context that gave rise to the Age of Cathedrals

Learning Outcomes

Understand the historical significance of cathedrals in Europe
Analyze the cultural and societal context of the Age of Cathedrals
Gain knowledge on the art and architecture of the Middle Ages

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of European history
Interest in art and architecture

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online self-paced
Video lectures
Quizzes

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Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Ken Follett
Jacob Burckhardt

Related Books

Description

An introduction to some of the most astonishing architectural monuments the world has ever known—Gothic cathedrals. We shall study the art, literature, intellectual life, economics, and new social arrangements that arose in the shadow of the cathedrals and that were such an important part of the revival of cities in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The goal of the course is a better appreciation of the High Middle Ages, a world that is still recognizably our own.

Outline

Introduction & Saint-Denis I
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Paris
1.3 Notre Dame de Paris and the Wave of Cathedral Building
1.4 What We'll Study
2.1 The Old Church
2.2 Royalty Reposed
2.3 The Fair of Lendit
Pre-Course Survey

Saint-Denis
3.1 Suger, the Producer
3.2 Reasons, Spiritual and Worldly
4.1 The Central Portal, Saint-Denis
4.2 The North and South Portals, Saint-Denis
5.1 God is Light
5.2 Saint-Denis, a Storehouse of Treasure
5.3 The Uplifting Church
5.4 The Anagogical and Moses Windows
On What was Done in his Administration by Abbot Suger
Life of Saint Denis by James of Voragine
The Celestial Hierarchy by The Pseudo-Dionysius
Saint-Denis

Architectural Innovation
6.1 Romanesque
6.2 Gothic Origins
6.3 Gothic
7.1 Architectural Innovations

Notre Dame de Paris
8.1 The Role and Initial Construction of Notre Dame
8.2 Renovations
9.1 Influences and Innovations
9.2 St. Anne’s Portal
9.3 Coronation Portal
10.1 Central Portal: The Last Judgment
10.2 Notre Dame’s Roses
11.1 St. Stephen’s Portal
11.2 Theophilus and the Virgin
11.3 Truth Set in Stone
The Nativity of Mary by James of Voragine
The Assumption of Mary by James of Voragine
The Miracle of Theophilus by Rutebeuf
Notre Dame de Paris

Intellectual and Everyday Life
12.1 From Mars to Minerva
12.2 Introducing Faith into Reason
12.3 The Story of Abelard’s Misfortunes
14.1 “The Crucified Priest”
14.2 “The Peekaboo Priest”
Historia calamitatum (The Story of My Misfortunes) by Peter Abelard
The Crucified Priest
The Peekaboo Priest

Our Lady of Chartres
15.1 Dizzying Heights
15.2 The History of Chartres
15.3 The Holy Tunic
16.1 Merchant Donors
16.2 The West Façade
16.3 The North and South Transepts
17.1 Chartres’ Lancets
17.2 Chartres’ Roses
18.1 The Zodiac Window
18.2 Charlemagne in Glass
Miracles of Our Lady of Chartres by Jehan le Marchant
Daily Life and Chartres

Cathedrals and Crusades
19.1 Lords and Vassals
19.2 Plunder
19.3 Roland’s Reliquary Sword
19.4 Vengeance or Treason?
20.1 Church and State
20.2 Amassing of Relics
20.3 A New Holy Land
The Song of Roland

Saints and Kings
21.1 A Radiating Chapel
21.2 Total Work of Art
22.1 The House of Glass
22.2 Apse
22.3 North Program
22.4 South Program
23.1 Building a Case for Canonization
23.2 Confessor or Martyr?
23.3 Louis’ Virtues
24.1 Louis the Crusader
24.2 The Almost Martyr
24.3 The King Becomes a Relic
The Memories of the Lord of Joinville (The Life of Saint-Louis) by Joinville
Saints, Kings and Crusades

Conclusion
25.1 Cathedrals from the Middle Ages to the Present
Post-Course Survey

Summary of User Reviews

The Age of Cathedrals course on Coursera is highly rated by users. Many found the course to be engaging and informative, with a great instructor. The course covers the history and architecture of Gothic cathedrals, and is well-suited for anyone interested in art history, architecture, or medieval history.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The instructor was engaging and knowledgeable, making the course enjoyable and easy to understand.

Pros from User Reviews

Engaging and knowledgeable instructor
Clear and concise lectures
In-depth exploration of Gothic cathedrals
Great for art history and architecture enthusiasts
Well-structured course content

Cons from User Reviews

Some found the course material to be too basic
Not enough interactive elements or assignments
Lack of peer interaction
No certificate option for auditing the course

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