Age of Cathedrals
Yale University
About this Course
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.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
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.
7 videos (Total 36 min), 1 reading
7 videos
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
1 readings
Pre-Course Survey10m
2
Section
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.
8 videos (Total 57 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes
8 videos
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
3 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
1 practice exercises
Saint-Denis24m
3
Section
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.
4 videos (Total 32 min), 1 quiz
4
Section
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.
10 videos (Total 67 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
10 videos
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
3 readings
The Nativity of Mary by James of Voragine30m
The Assumption of Mary by James of Voragine30m
The Miracle of Theophilus by Rutebeuf30m
1 practice exercises
Notre Dame de Paris10m
5
Section
Intellectual and Everyday Life
Here we examine the cathedral in terms of surrounding intellectual and everyday life. A reading of Peter Abelard’s autobiography, The Story of my Misfortunes, testifies to the growth of the scholastic method in the context of the earliest university culture; and two verse comic tales, “The Crucified Priest” and “The Peekaboo Priest” introduce the new mentality of the inhabitant of towns with emphasis on cleverness, quick thinking, and timing along with an anti-clerical spirit.
5 videos (Total 32 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
5 videos
12.2 Introducing Faith into Reason7m
12.3 The Story of Abelard’s Misfortunes5m
14.1 “The Crucified Priest”9m
14.2 “The Peekaboo Priest”3m
3 readings
Historia calamitatum (The Story of My Misfortunes) by Peter Abelard30m
The Crucified Priest10m
The Peekaboo Priest10m
6
Section
Our Lady of Chartres
In Module 6 we move West of Paris to the cathedral of Chartres where Gothic architecture hits its stride. We explore the history of Chartres, its unique and mysterious architectural features, and its miraculous relic—the Holy Tunic. We discuss the financing of Chartres as seen in the windows donated by merchant which depict the various urban trades alongside the sculpture of the West façade, the rose and lancet stained glass windows, and the secular Zodiac and Charlemagne windows, the latter of which is linked to important literary works of the period.
10 videos (Total 76 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
10 videos
15.2 The History of Chartres4m
15.3 The Holy Tunic4m
16.1 Merchant Donors7m
16.2 The West Façade10m
16.3 The North and South Transepts3m
17.1 Chartres’ Lancets7m
17.2 Chartres’ Roses9m
18.1 The Zodiac Window4m
18.2 Charlemagne in Glass17m
1 readings
Miracles of Our Lady of Chartres by Jehan le Marchant10m
1 practice exercises
Daily Life and Chartres12m
7
Section
Cathedrals and Crusades
In Module 7 we examine in some detail The Song of Roland, portions of which are depicted in the stained glass of Chartres, and we explore the relationship of relics from the Middle East to cathedral building.
7 videos (Total 53 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
7 videos
19.2 Plunder5m
19.3 Roland’s Reliquary Sword5m
19.4 Vengeance or Treason?6m
20.1 Church and State9m
20.2 Amassing of Relics11m
20.3 A New Holy Land5m
1 readings
The Song of Roland30m
8
Section
Saints and Kings
In Module 8 we explore Saint Louis’s building of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris as a house of glass, a new Ark of the Covenant, to house the relics he had amassed. Using Jean de Joinville’s Life of Saint-Louis as our source, we encounter the Saint King’s life as a crusader, his death, canonization, and the miracles performed by his body on his way to sainthood.
12 videos (Total 82 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
12 videos
21.2 Total Work of Art5m
22.1 The House of Glass6m
22.2 Apse5m
22.3 North Program4m
22.4 South Program5m
23.1 Building a Case for Canonization7m
23.2 Confessor or Martyr?2m
23.3 Louis’ Virtues9m
24.1 Louis the Crusader10m
24.2 The Almost Martyr4m
24.3 The King Becomes a Relic9m
1 readings
The Memories of the Lord of Joinville (The Life of Saint-Louis) by Joinville30m
1 practice exercises
Saints, Kings and Crusades12m
9
Section
Conclusion
By way of conclusion, we explore the history of Gothic cathedrals from the Middle Ages to the present.
1 video (Total 16 min), 1 reading
1 readings
Post-Course Survey10m
4.6
33%
83%
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 CS•Jan 28th 2018
This course far exceeded what I was expecting. He explained the statuary on the exterior, the symbolism relating to the beautiful stained-glass windows and introduced me to
Instructor
Howard Bloch
Sterling Professor of FrenchAbout 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
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
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.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Yes! Coursera provides financial aid to learners who would like to complete a course but cannot afford the course fee. To apply for aid, select "Learn more and apply" in the Financial Aid section below the "Enroll" button. You'll be prompted to complete a simple application; no other paperwork is required.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education,
partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2018 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
