About this Course
4.6
99 ratings
•
32 reviews
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....
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Beginner Level

Beginner Level

Clock

Suggested: 4 hours/week

Approx. 26 hours to complete
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English

Subtitles: English
Globe

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Calendar

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level

Beginner Level

Clock

Suggested: 4 hours/week

Approx. 26 hours to complete
Comment Dots

English

Subtitles: English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section
Clock
1 hour to complete

Introduction & Saint-Denis I

An introduction to the history of Paris in the centuries of chaos following the death of Charlemagne in 814 and the building of the first Gothic cathedral at Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. The old abbey church, where the kings of France were buried, was inadequate, and so a new building project was undertaken by Abbot Suger, who financed the new building through efficient land management and the commercial Fair of Lendit along a trade route between northern and southern Europe....
Reading
7 videos (Total 36 min), 1 reading
Video7 videos
1.1 Introduction3m
1.2 Paris4m
1.3 Notre Dame de Paris and the Wave of Cathedral Building7m
1.4 What We'll Study5m
2.1 The Old Church6m
2.2 Royalty Reposed5m
2.3 The Fair of Lendit4m
Reading1 reading
Pre-Course Survey10m

2

Section
Clock
3 hours to complete

Saint-Denis

Here we encounter the portrait of Abbot Suger via his account of how and why he built Saint-Denis, what is portrayed on the West façade of the cathedral, and how the doctrine of God as light, encountered in a book which had come from Byzantium to the abbey centuries earlier, was translated into architectural form. We see some of the objects that are part of the treasury of Saint-Denis and discuss the Abbot’s notion of “anagogical uplift” as a way of moving—via stained glass—between the Old and New Testaments and from the material to the spiritual plane....
Reading
8 videos (Total 57 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes
Video8 videos
3.1 Suger, the Producer8m
3.2 Reasons, Spiritual and Worldly8m
4.1 The Central Portal, Saint-Denis9m
4.2 The North and South Portals, Saint-Denis5m
5.1 God is Light7m
5.2 Saint-Denis, a Storehouse of Treasure7m
5.3 The Uplifting Church4m
5.4 The Anagogical and Moses Windows5m
Reading3 readings
On What was Done in his Administration by Abbot Suger30m
Life of Saint Denis by James of Voragine10m
The Celestial Hierarchy by The Pseudo-Dionysius10m
Quiz1 practice exercise
Saint-Denis24m

3

Section
Clock
2 hours to complete

Architectural Innovation

Filling in the background of Romanesque churches that preceded Gothic buildings, we discuss the origins and engineering innovations of the new style of religious architecture. These include ribbed vaults, reinforced pillars, pointed arches, flying buttresses, and a modular system of bay construction; all of which permits the construction of higher and lighter, thinner walls filled with stained glass. ...
Reading
4 videos (Total 32 min), 1 quiz
Video4 videos
6.1 Romanesque6m
6.2 Gothic Origins3m
6.3 Gothic8m
7.1 Architectural Innovations12m

4

Section
Clock
3 hours to complete

Notre Dame de Paris

Moving to the heart of Paris, we explore the initial construction of Notre-Dame and the innovations that were undertaken almost as soon as the building began. We discuss the sculptural programs of Notre-Dame’s West façade, including the portal which depicts the life of Saint Anne, Christ’s grandmother, and Mary, his mother and the central portal of the Last Judgment. Along the south side, we discover the story of the stoning of Saint Stephen; and, along the North, the miracle of Theophilus and the Virgin. Moving inside the cathedral, we encounter the stunning rose windows of Notre-Dame. ...
Reading
10 videos (Total 67 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
Video10 videos
8.1 The Role and Initial Construction of Notre Dame7m
8.2 Renovations7m
9.1 Influences and Innovations4m
9.2 St. Anne’s Portal11m
9.3 Coronation Portal7m
10.1 Central Portal: The Last Judgment6m
10.2 Notre Dame’s Roses7m
11.1 St. Stephen’s Portal4m
11.2 Theophilus and the Virgin3m
11.3 Truth Set in Stone8m
Reading3 readings
The Nativity of Mary by James of Voragine30m
The Assumption of Mary by James of Voragine30m
The Miracle of Theophilus by Rutebeuf30m
Quiz1 practice exercise
Notre Dame de Paris10m
4.6
Direction Signs

33%

started a new career after completing these courses
Briefcase

83%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Top Reviews

By AK•Jan 25th 2018

Very interesting and well worth my time taking this course. I helped me appreciate not only the significance of the cathedrals, but the thinking and motivation of the medieval people.

By JC•Jul 11th 2018

A truly sublime course that takes you on a remarkable journey of discovery, in the safe and knowledgeable hands of our eminent guide, Howard Bloch Sterling Professor of French.

Instructor

Howard Bloch

Sterling Professor of French
French

About Yale University

For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines. ...

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.

  • When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

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