Medieval Cities & Colonial Empires: Art & Societal Shifts
Medieval Trade & Urban Resurgence
From the twelfth century, the stagnant rural society began to transform. Major cities emerged, channeling industrial and commercial activity.
Many cities originated from burgs, centers for manufacturing and trade. This led to specialized production, necessitating exchange as urban areas were not self-sufficient like feudal lands. Medieval markets and fairs were born.
Trade routes reopened, increasing contact between burgs, towns, and rural areas. This spurred migration from rural to urban settings.
Demographic shifts brought social change. City inhabitants gained freedom from feudal dependencies. New forms of social organization arose, including corporations, councils, and private banks.
Cities varied across Christendom, from simple trading centers to large, vibrant hubs of economic and social power, representing a new societal model.
Geographical Discoveries & Colonial Empires
The fifteenth century marked a revolution with the discovery of the Americas. New navigation tools and commercial financing enabled overseas expansion.
Spain and Portugal led exploration, seeking direct routes to Africa and Asia for spices. Portugal found a sea route to India, trading gold, slaves, and spices. Spain, lacking a spice route, supported Columbus’s voyages, leading to the colonization of the Americas.
The Treaty of Tordesillas divided new territories between Spain and Portugal. The Netherlands and England pursued colonization for commercial and religious reasons, impacting indigenous cultures.
The Columbian Exchange introduced new products to Europe, while the influx of gold and silver had profound economic effects. The discovery of America is often seen as the beginning of the modern age and the capitalist system.
Romanesque & Gothic Art
Romanesque Art
Art Serving Christian Religion
In the Middle Ages, art was primarily religious, focusing on church construction and decoration.
Romanesque art emerged in the High Middle Ages, characterized by:
- Large stone walls supported by columns and pillars
- Use of the arch and barrel vault
- Few and small windows, resulting in dark interiors
- Sculptures and paintings depicting sacred stories
- Rural architecture, including village churches and monasteries
Gothic Art
Art of the Medieval City
Gothic art corresponded to the late Middle Ages, with cathedrals as its emblem.
Gothic architecture is characterized by:
- Pointed arches and ribbed vaults
- Larger, taller churches with large windows, creating light interiors
- Exterior walls reinforced with buttresses
- Elaborate decoration with sculptures, paintings, and stained glass
- Urban architecture, with cathedrals at city centers
- More natural and refined sculpture, and the emergence of oil painting