romikgosai/squad_modified_2 huggingface dataset:
By the 12th century, Romanesque architecture (termed Norman architecture in England because of its association with the Norman invasion), was established throughout Europe and provided the basic architectural forms and units that were to remain in evolution throughout the Medieval period. The important categories of building: the cathedral church, the parish church, the monastery, the castle, the palace, the great hall, the gatehouse, the civic building, had been established in the Romanesque period.

Q1: What is Romanesque architecture known as in England?
A1: Norman architecture
Q2: By the beginning of what century was the Romanesque style established all over Europe?
A2: the 12th century
Q3: The Romanesque style continued to affect and inspire  the basic architectural forms throughout which period?
A3: the Medieval period
Q4: What is one important category of building that was recognized during the Romanesque period?
A4: the cathedral church
Q5: What is another category of building that was established during the Romanesque period?
A5: the palace
It was principally the widespread introduction of a single feature, the pointed arch, which was to bring about the change that separates Gothic from Romanesque. The technological change permitted a stylistic change which broke the tradition of massive masonry and solid walls penetrated by small openings, replacing it with a style where light appears to triumph over substance. With its use came the development of many other architectural devices, previously put to the test in scattered buildings and then called into service to meet the structural, aesthetic and ideological needs of the new style. These include the flying buttresses, pinnacles and traceried windows which typify Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. But while pointed arch is so strongly associated with the Gothic style, it was first used in Western architecture in buildings that were in other ways clearly Romanesque, notably Durham Cathedral in the north of England, Monreale Cathedral and Cathedral of Cefalù in Sicily, Autun Cathedral in France.

Q1: What was the most important single design aspect that separated the Gothic style from the Romanesque?
A1: the pointed arch
Q2: What is one example of a Gothic style element that was able to be incorporated because of technological innovation?
A2: the flying buttresses
Q3: What is another example of a Gothic style element that was able to be incorporated because of technological innovation?
A3: traceried windows
Q4: What is the name of the cathedral in Northern England that first displayed the use of the pointed arch?
A4: Durham Cathedral
Q5: What is the name of the cathedral in Sicily that first displayed the use of the pointed arch?
A5: Cathedral of Cefalù
The pointed arch, one of the defining attributes of Gothic, was earlier incorporated into Islamic architecture following the Islamic conquests of Roman Syria and the Sassanid Empire in the Seventh Century. The pointed arch and its precursors had been employed in Late Roman and Sassanian architecture; within the Roman context, evidenced in early church building in Syria and occasional secular structures, like the Roman Karamagara Bridge; in Sassanid architecture, in the parabolic and pointed arches employed in palace and sacred construction.

Q1: What is one defining characteristic of the Gothic architectural style?
A1: The pointed arch
Q2: Which type of architecture first used the pointed arch during the seventh century?
A2: Islamic architecture
Q3: What other type of architecture also made use of the pointed arch?
A3: Sassanian architecture
Q4: The Roman Karamagara Bridge is an example of what type of structure?
A4: secular structures
Q5: Parabolic and pointed arches were used in what type of constrcution?
A5: palace and sacred construction
Increasing military and cultural contacts with the Muslim world, including the Norman conquest of Islamic Sicily in 1090, the Crusades, beginning 1096, and the Islamic presence in Spain, may have influenced Medieval Europe's adoption of the pointed arch, although this hypothesis remains controversial. Certainly, in those parts of the Western Mediterranean subject to Islamic control or influence, rich regional variants arose, fusing Romanesque and later Gothic traditions with Islamic decorative forms, as seen, for example, in Monreale and Cefalù Cathedrals, the Alcázar of Seville, and Teruel Cathedral.

Q1: What could have affected Medieval Europe's embracing of the pointed arch?
A1: cultural contacts with the Muslim world
Q2: What event in the year 1090 could have had an effect on Medieval Europe's embracing of the pointed arch?
A2: the Norman conquest of Islamic Sicily
Q3: In which parts of the Western Mediterranean did the blending of Romanesque and Islamic styles occur?
A3: those parts of the Western Mediterranean subject to Islamic control
Q4: What is one cathedral in which the mixing of Romanesque, Gothic and Islamic styles can be seen?
A4: Cefalù Cathedrals
Q5: What is another example of a cathedral in which the blending of Romanesque, Gothic and Islamic styles can be seen?
A5: Teruel Cathedral
The characteristic forms that were to define Gothic architecture grew out of Romanesque architecture and developed at several different geographic locations, as the result of different influences and structural requirements. While barrel vaults and groin vaults are typical of Romanesque architecture, ribbed vaults were used in the naves of two Romanesque churches in Caen, Abbey of Saint-Étienne and Abbaye aux Dames in 1120. Another early example is the nave and apse area of the Cathedral of Cefalù in 1131. The ribbed vault over the north transept at Durham Cathedral in England, built from 1128 to 1133, is probably earlier still and was the first time pointed arches were used in a high vault.

Q1: The distinctive forms that describe Gothic architecture developed out of which style?
A1: Romanesque
Q2: Barrel and groin vaults are examples of what kind of architecture?
A2: Romanesque architecture
Q3: What type of vaults were used in the Abbey of Saint-Étienne and Abbaye aux Dames?
A3: ribbed vaults
Q4: When was Durham Cathedral constructed?
A4: from 1128 to 1133
Q5: What cathedral first made use of pointed arches in high vaults?
A5: Durham Cathedral in England
The Basilica of Saint Denis is generally cited as the first truly Gothic building, however the distinction is best reserved for the choir, of which the ambulatory remains intact. Noyon Cathedral, also in France, saw the earliest completion of a rebuilding of an entire cathedral in the new style from 1150 to 1231. While using all those features that came to be known as Gothic, including pointed arches, flying buttresses and ribbed vaulting, the builders continued to employ many of the features and much of the character of Romanesque architecture including round-headed arch throughout the building, varying the shape to pointed where it was functionally practical to do so.

Q1: What is considered the first truly Gothic building?
A1: The Basilica of Saint Denis
Q2: Which cathedral was first to be rebuilt in the new style from 1150 to 1231?
A2: Noyon Cathedral
Q3: What is one of the features that have come to be considered as an important part of the Gothic style?
A3: pointed arches
Q4: What is one of the features that have come to be considered as an important part of the Gothic style?
A4: flying buttresses
Q5: What is one of the features that have come to be considered as an important part of the Gothic style?
A5: ribbed vaulting
At the Abbey Saint-Denis, Noyon Cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris and at the eastern end of Canterbury Cathedral in England, simple cylindrical columns predominate over the Gothic forms of clustered columns and shafted piers. Wells Cathedral in England, commenced at the eastern end in 1175, was the first building in which the designer broke free from Romanesque forms. The architect entirely dispensed with the round arch in favour of the pointed arch and with cylindrical columns in favour of piers composed of clusters of shafts which lead into the mouldings of the arches. The transepts and nave were continued by Adam Locke in the same style and completed in about 1230. The character of the building is entirely Gothic. Wells Cathedral is thus considered the first truly Gothic cathedral.

Q1: What is one cathedral in which simple cylindrical columns stand out more than the Gothic features?
A1: Abbey Saint-Denis
Q2: When was the construction of Wells Cathedral in England begun?
A2: in 1175
Q3: Who completed the transepts and nave on Wells Cathedral in about 1230?
A3: Adam Locke
Q4: Which Cathedral is considered the first thoroughly Gothic cathedral?
A4: Wells Cathedral
Q5: What is another cathedral in which simple cylindrical columns stand out more than the Gothic features?
A5: Notre Dame de Paris
Suger, friend and confidant of the French Kings, Louis VI and Louis VII, decided in about 1137, to rebuild the great Church of Saint-Denis, attached to an abbey which was also a royal residence. He began with the West Front, reconstructing the original Carolingian façade with its single door. He designed the façade of Saint-Denis to be an echo of the Roman Arch of Constantine with its three-part division and three large portals to ease the problem of congestion. The rose window is the earliest-known example above the West portal in France. The façade combines both round arches and pointed arches of the Gothic style.

Q1: Who chose to rebuild the great Church of Saint-Denis in about 1137?
A1: Suger
Q2: Which portion the cathedral was the reconstruction of the great Church of Saint-Denis begun?
A2: the West Front
Q3: The facade of Saint Denis resembled what other well known structure?
A3: the Roman Arch of Constantine
Q4: Why were three large portal used in the construction of the Roman Arch of Constantine?
A4: to ease the problem of congestion
Q5: The facade of Saint Denis combines round arches with what other style arch?
A5: pointed arches of the Gothic style
At the completion of the west front in 1140, Abbot Suger moved on to the reconstruction of the eastern end, leaving the Carolingian nave in use. He designed a choir that would be suffused with light. To achieve his aims, his masons drew on the several new features which evolved or had been introduced to Romanesque architecture, the pointed arch, the ribbed vault, the ambulatory with radiating chapels, the clustered columns supporting ribs springing in different directions and the flying buttresses which enabled the insertion of large clerestory windows.

Q1: When was the west front of Saint Denis completed?
A1: in 1140
Q2: What portion of the reconstruction of Saint Denis was begun after the completion of the west front?
A2: the eastern end
Q3: What style of nave was left unaltered during this portion of the reconstruction of Saint Denis?
A3: the Carolingian nave
Q4: What style of columns did Abbott Suger use when reconstructing Saint Denis?
A4: clustered columns
Q5: What design element allowed the use of large clerestory windows?
A5: the flying buttresses
While many secular buildings exist from the Late Middle Ages, it is in the buildings of cathedrals and great churches that Gothic architecture displays its pertinent structures and characteristics to the fullest advantage. A Gothic cathedral or abbey was, prior to the 20th century, generally the landmark building in its town, rising high above all the domestic structures and often surmounted by one or more towers and pinnacles and perhaps tall spires. These cathedrals were the skyscrapers of that day and would have been the largest buildings by far that Europeans would ever have seen. It is in the architecture of these Gothic churches that a unique combination of existing technologies established the emergence of a new building style. Those technologies were the ogival or pointed arch, the ribbed vault, and the buttress.

Q1: What type of buildings most prominently display the design aspects of the Gothic architectural style?
A1: cathedrals and great churches
Q2: Prior to the 20th century, a Gothic cathedral was considered to be what type of building in the town in which it was constructed?
A2: the landmark building
Q3: What is another name for the pointed arch?
A3: the ogival
Q4: What is an example of architectural technology that is seen in Gothic construction?
A4: the ribbed vault
Q5: What is another example of architectural technology that is seen in Gothic construction?
A5: the buttress
The eastern arm shows considerable diversity. In England it is generally long and may have two distinct sections, both choir and presbytery. It is often square ended or has a projecting Lady Chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In France the eastern end is often polygonal and surrounded by a walkway called an ambulatory and sometimes a ring of chapels called a "chevet". While German churches are often similar to those of France, in Italy, the eastern projection beyond the transept is usually just a shallow apsidal chapel containing the sanctuary, as at Florence Cathedral.

Q1: In England, which arm would generally show two distinct sections, choir and presbytery?
A1: The eastern arm
Q2: Who is a projecting Lady Chapel dedicated to?
A2: the Virgin Mary
Q3: What shape does the eastern end often exhibit in France?
A3: polygonal
Q4: What is the ring of chapels found in the eastern end of French chapels known as?
A4: chevet
Q5: In Italy, the eastern projection beyond the transept often contains what?
A5: the sanctuary
Contrary to the diffusionist theory, it appears that there was simultaneously a structural evolution towards the pointed arch, for the purpose of vaulting spaces of irregular plan, or to bring transverse vaults to the same height as diagonal vaults. This latter occurs at Durham Cathedral in the nave aisles in 1093. Pointed arches also occur extensively in Romanesque decorative blind arcading, where semi-circular arches overlap each other in a simple decorative pattern, and the points are accidental to the design.

Q1: The use of the pointed arch for bringing transverse vaults to the same height diagonal ones, is in disagreement with what theory?
A1: the diffusionist theory
Q2: At which cathedral is the pointed arch used to match the heights of transverse and diagonal vaults?
A2: Durham Cathedral
Q3: In what type of decorative blind arcading are pointed arches common?
A3: Romanesque
Q4: When semicircular arches overlap each other, what type of design is accidentally created?
A4: points
The Gothic vault, unlike the semi-circular vault of Roman and Romanesque buildings, can be used to roof rectangular and irregularly shaped plans such as trapezoids. The other structural advantage is that the pointed arch channels the weight onto the bearing piers or columns at a steep angle. This enabled architects to raise vaults much higher than was possible in Romanesque architecture. While, structurally, use of the pointed arch gave a greater flexibility to architectural form, it also gave Gothic architecture a very different and more vertical visual character than Romanesque.

Q1: Which type of vault can be used for rectangular and trapezoidal shaped roofs?
A1: The Gothic vault
Q2: What structural benefit is offered by the Gothic vault?
A2: channels the weight onto the bearing piers or columns at a steep angle
Q3: What can architects raise much higher using the Gothic versus the Romanesque variety?
A3: vaults
Q4: What type of visual character is achieved by using the pointed arch?
A4: more vertical visual character
Externally, towers and spires are characteristic of Gothic churches both great and small, the number and positioning being one of the greatest variables in Gothic architecture. In Italy, the tower, if present, is almost always detached from the building, as at Florence Cathedral, and is often from an earlier structure. In France and Spain, two towers on the front is the norm. In England, Germany and Scandinavia this is often the arrangement, but an English cathedral may also be surmounted by an enormous tower at the crossing. Smaller churches usually have just one tower, but this may also be the case at larger buildings, such as Salisbury Cathedral or Ulm Minster, which has the tallest spire in the world, slightly exceeding that of Lincoln Cathedral, the tallest which was actually completed during the medieval period, at 160 metres (520 ft).

Q1: What is one feature of both large and small Gothic churches?
A1: towers
Q2: What is another feature of both large and small Gothic churches?
A2: spires
Q3: How many towers are typical on the front of Gothic churches in France and Spain?
A3: two towers
Q4: In what country is the tower often found detached from the main building?
A4: Italy
Q5: How many towers are found at the Salisbury Chapel?
A5: just one tower
On the exterior, the verticality is emphasised in a major way by the towers and spires and in a lesser way by strongly projecting vertical buttresses, by narrow half-columns called attached shafts which often pass through several storeys of the building, by long narrow windows, vertical mouldings around doors and figurative sculpture which emphasises the vertical and is often attenuated. The roofline, gable ends, buttresses and other parts of the building are often terminated by small pinnacles, Milan Cathedral being an extreme example in the use of this form of decoration.

Q1: What enhances the vertical look of the exterior of Gothic construction?
A1: the towers and spires
Q2: What is one design element of Gothic construction that is often terminated by small pinnacles?
A2: The roofline
Q3: What is another design element of Gothic construction that is often terminated by small pinnacles?
A3: gable ends
Q4: Which cathedral demonstrates a drastic example of termination with small pinnacles?
A4: Milan Cathedral
Q5: What other part of Gothic buildings are often found terminated with small pinnacles?
A5: buttresses
On the interior of the building attached shafts often sweep unbroken from floor to ceiling and meet the ribs of the vault, like a tall tree spreading into branches. The verticals are generally repeated in the treatment of the windows and wall surfaces. In many Gothic churches, particularly in France, and in the Perpendicular period of English Gothic architecture, the treatment of vertical elements in gallery and window tracery creates a strongly unifying feature that counteracts the horizontal divisions of the interior structure.

Q1: What is often found sweeping unbroken from floor to ceiling on the interior of Gothic buildings?
A1: attached shafts
Q2: Where are the verticals found repeated in the interior of Gothic buildings?
A2: the treatment of the windows and wall surfaces
Q3: What sort of feature is created by the use of vertical elements in gallery and window tracery?
A3: a strongly unifying feature
Q4: What does the use of vertical elements help to counteract?
A4: horizontal divisions of the interior structure
Expansive interior light has been a feature of Gothic cathedrals since the first structure was opened. The metaphysics of light in the Middle Ages led to clerical belief in its divinity and the importance of its display in holy settings. Much of this belief was based on the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius, a sixth-century mystic whose book, The Celestial Hierarchy, was popular among monks in France. Pseudo-Dionysius held that all light, even light reflected from metals or streamed through windows, was divine. To promote such faith, the abbot in charge of the Saint-Denis church on the north edge of Paris, the Abbot Suger, encouraged architects remodeling the building to make the interior as bright as possible.

Q1: Who encouraged cathedral architects to allow as much light as possible into the building?
A1: the Abbot Suger
Q2: Who held the belief that all light, including light reflected from walls and surfaces was divine?
A2: Pseudo-Dionysius
Q3: What sort of light has always been characteristic of Gothic cathedrals?
A3: Expansive interior light
Q4: What book became popular with monks in France and had an effect on how light was used in cathedrals?
A4: The Celestial Hierarchy
Q5: Whose writings led to the clerical belief in the divinity of light?
A5: Pseudo-Dionysius
Above the main portal there is generally a large window, like that at York Minster, or a group of windows such as those at Ripon Cathedral. In France there is generally a rose window like that at Reims Cathedral. Rose windows are also often found in the façades of churches of Spain and Italy, but are rarer elsewhere and are not found on the façades of any English Cathedrals. The gable is usually richly decorated with arcading or sculpture or, in the case of Italy, may be decorated with the rest of the façade, with polychrome marble and mosaic, as at Orvieto Cathedral.

Q1: What size of window is found above the main portal at York Minster?
A1: a large window
Q2: What type of window is often found above the main portal at cathedrals in France such as the Reims Cathedral?
A2: a rose window
Q3: Where are rose windows never found in the facades of cathedrals?
A3: any English Cathedrals
Q4: What portion of Gothic buildings are usually richly decorated with arcading or sculpture?
A4: The gable
Q5: Which Italian cathedral displays polychrome marble and mosaic on the gable?
A5: Orvieto Cathedral
The distinctive characteristic of French cathedrals, and those in Germany and Belgium that were strongly influenced by them, is their height and their impression of verticality. Each French cathedral tends to be stylistically unified in appearance when compared with an English cathedral where there is great diversity in almost every building. They are compact, with slight or no projection of the transepts and subsidiary chapels. The west fronts are highly consistent, having three portals surmounted by a rose window, and two large towers. Sometimes there are additional towers on the transept ends. The east end is polygonal with ambulatory and sometimes a chevette of radiating chapels. In the south of France, many of the major churches are without transepts and some are without aisles.

Q1: What is the distinguiushing visual design feature of French cathedrals?
A1: their impression of verticality
Q2: How many portals are typically found on the west front of French cathedrals?
A2: three portals
Q3: How many towers are typically found on the west front of French cathedrals?
A3: two large towers
Q4: What shape does the east end of French chapels typically have?
A4: The east end is polygonal
Q5: What do many major churches in Southern France often lack?
A5: transepts
The distinctive characteristic of English cathedrals is their extreme length, and their internal emphasis upon the horizontal, which may be emphasised visually as much or more than the vertical lines. Each English cathedral (with the exception of Salisbury) has an extraordinary degree of stylistic diversity, when compared with most French, German and Italian cathedrals. It is not unusual for every part of the building to have been built in a different century and in a different style, with no attempt at creating a stylistic unity. Unlike French cathedrals, English cathedrals sprawl across their sites, with double transepts projecting strongly and Lady Chapels tacked on at a later date, such as at Westminster Abbey. In the west front, the doors are not as significant as in France, the usual congregational entrance being through a side porch. The West window is very large and never a rose, which are reserved for the transept gables. The west front may have two towers like a French Cathedral, or none. There is nearly always a tower at the crossing and it may be very large and surmounted by a spire. The distinctive English east end is square, but it may take a completely different form. Both internally and externally, the stonework is often richly decorated with carvings, particularly the capitals.

Q1: What is the unique design feature of English cathedrals?
A1: their extreme length
Q2: What type of transepts do English cathedrals often feature?
A2: double transepts
Q3: What size of window is typically featured on the west end of English cathedrals?
A3: very large
Q4: Where are rose windows used on English cathedrals?
A4: the transept gables
Q5: On English cathedrals, where is a tower almost always found?
A5: at the crossing