12th–13th centuryReputable sourceWell documented
Gothic Cathedrals
On the timeline · around 12th–13th century ·
What happened
Beginning with Abbot Suger's rebuilding of Saint-Denis near Paris around 1140, a new architecture arose across Europe. Using pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, Gothic cathedrals such as Chartres soared to great heights and filled their interiors with coloured light through vast stained-glass windows.
Why it matters
The Gothic cathedral was the supreme artistic and engineering achievement of the High Middle Ages, expressing a medieval vision of light as divine and dominating the skylines of Europe for centuries.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Gothic Cathedrals: Architecture & Divine Light · Reputable source