Gothic architecture
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Gothic architecture is a style of architecture. It is used throughout Europe and is usually seen in Churches and Cathedrals. The style was begun with the Saint Denis Basilica. Gothic architecture was created in the mid-twelfth century as a type of art. It was named by Italian writers during the renaissance for the barbaric Goth tribes that invaded and helped collapse the Roman Empire. It was named after a barbaric tribe because the Italians saw the buildings as non-classical and ugly. We now know that the Gothic architecture had nothing to do with these barbaric tribes. The Gothic design was originally made to improve build stabilization. Before this type of building plan masons had a hard time supporting the heavy masonry ceiling on the walls without them collapsing. The weight of the ceiling pushed the walls outward thus causing the ceiling to cave in and the walls to crumble. For this reason churches had extremely thick walls. To solve this problem the flying buttress was made to support this weight. Also they began to create the roof thin stone panels. Seams in the ceiling were created to take the force off of the one seam where the walls meet the ceiling. Vertical pillars were placed along the seams to support them. These inventions eliminated the need of thick walls. Flying buttresses were built to counteract the action of the ceiling pushing outward. These structures were built of heave stone and leaned against the sides of the nave, or central hall where the congregation sits.. The arches, now with pointed seams instead of the traditional round roofs became known as Gothic. The thin walls, flying buttresses, and light ceilings now allowed the masons to build much larger and taller buildings. They could also make more complicated ground plans and because of thin walls the churches could be lit up with windows.