The Fall of Rome
Early Christian
Romanesque
Medieval
Gothic
100
This year __76 CE traditionally marked by the deposition of Romulus Augustulus, signals the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
What is 476 CE?
100
This underground burial place in Rome preserves some of the earliest Christian frescoes.
What are the catacombs?
100
In Romanesque church plans, these crosswise sections give the building its characteristic cruciform (cross-shaped) layout.
What are transepts?
100
Illuminated manuscripts were often created in these religious communities.
What are monasteries?
100
This French cathedral, begun in 1163, is one of the most iconic examples of Gothic architecture.
What is Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris)?
200
This group, led by Alaric, famously sacked Rome in 410 CE.
Who were the Visigoths?
200
Early Christians adapted this Roman architectural building type, used previously by emperors and judges, for worship.
What is the basilica?
200
This type of massive stone ceiling, shaped like a half-cylinder, is characteristic of Romanesque interiors.
What is a barrel vault?
200
This system of landholding shaped medieval society and influenced artistic patronage.
What is feudalism?
200
Gothic architecture is famous for its tall pointed arches and these light-catching glass windows.
What are stained-glass windows?
300
This empire in the east survived the fall of Rome by nearly 1,000 years.
What is the Byzantine Empire?
300
This emperor legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313 CE.
Who was Constantine?
300
These small semicircular rooms that extend outward from the apse of a church were used to display relics, helping manage large numbers of medieval pilgrims.
What are radiating chapels?
300
Medieval church portals typically include this semi-circular area filled with sculpture above the doorway.
What is the tympanum?
300
These exterior supports allowed Gothic cathedrals to reach unprecedented heights.
What are flying buttresses?
400
Diocletian attempted to solve Rome’s administrative problems by creating this major political division.
What is the division of the empire into East and West?
400
This art form, made by setting small pieces of colored stone, glass, or tile into wet plaster, became a hallmark of Early Christian churches, especially in places like Ravenna.
What is a mosaic?
400
These walkway extensions along the sides of the nave allowed pilgrims to move around the church without disturbing worship.
What are aisles or ambulatories?
400
This style of medieval art features interlace patterns and animal motifs, seen in works like the Book of Kells.
What is Insular or Hiberno-Saxon art?
400
This type of vault, made of intersecting ribbed arches, is characteristic of Gothic architecture.
What is a ribbed vault?
500
These curved triangular supports allow a circular dome to be placed on top of a square base, as seen in the Hagia Sophia.
What are pendentives?
500
IXTHYS and acronym translating to "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" is the Greek word for this creature often used as a hidden symbol an early Christian art.
What is a fish?
500
In Romanesque churches, these high windows above the nave “fight” to bring in as much illumination as possible.
What are clerestory windows?
500
This person, named as the first holy Roman emperor, helped to promote manuscript writing and preservation of information.
Who is Charlemagne?
500
Many Gothic cathedrals, including Notre-Dame in Paris, feature this tall, slender structure rising from the crossing of the nave and transept, emphasizing verticality and serving as a visual focal point.
What is a spire?