GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE IN EUROPE. 273 the piers came to be occupied by bright colored windows, these of necessity took the pointed form of the vault, originally adopted for constructive reasons arising from the progress of the art of vaulting, which was further influenced by the desire for lofty windows to act as frames for the glass. 3. EXAMPLES. BUILDINGS ERECTED DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. CATHEDRALS AND CHURCHES. The construction of these buildings, many of which were founded in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, was carried on from generation to generation. The place in the national life which the mediaeval cathedrals occupied was an important one, and must be realized in order to understand how they were regarded. Cathedrals were erected and decorated partly as a means of popular education, and they were the history books of the period, taking the place in the social state since occupied, to a large extent, by such modern institutions as the Board School, Free Library, Museum, Picture Gallery and Concert Hall. The sculpture and the painted glass reflected the incidents of Bible History from the creation to the redemption of mankind, the sculptured forms and brilliant coloring being easily understood by the people. The virtues and vices, with their symbols, were there displayed, either in glass or statuary, along with their reward or punishment ; saints and angels told of the better life, and the various handicrafts, both of peace and war were mirrored in imperishable stone or colored glass. Architecture then as now was also the grand chronicle of secular history, past and present, in which Kings, Nobles and Knights were represented. The plans in all parts of Europe, as may be seen on referring to those of England (Nos. 117, 118, rig, 120 and 127), France (Nos. 155 and 159), Belgium (No. 167), Germany (Nos, 170 and 172), and Italy (Nos. 176 and 179), are generally in the form of a Latin cross, the short arms, north and south, forming the transepts. The cruciform ground plan is considered by some as a development from the early Christian basilicas, such as Old S. Peter, Rome (page 182), and by others, as evolved from the cruciform buildings erected for sepulchral purposes as early as the period of Constantine. A tower, sometimes crowned with a spire, was generally erected over the crossing or at the west end. As a rule the nave is the portion to the westward, and the choir, F.A. T
