(Return to Quarter 1)

Day 46

1. We’re going to circle back around to a topic we missed: Castles! Today read “Castles Through Time.”

Day 47

1. Read “The English Castle: Dominating the Landscape.”
2. Then watch “How Were Castles Built in the Medieval Period?”

Day 48

1. Read about motte-and-bailey castles.
2. Watch the video “The Problem with Motte and Bailey Castles.”

Day 49

1. A motte-and-bailey castles declined in popularity, they were replaced by stone keep castles. Read about stone castles in England.
2. Watch the video about stone keep castles.

Day 50

1. Read about important architectural elements of a medieval castle.
2. Watch the video “Different Types of Medieval Castles.”

Day 51

1. Today watch “Modern Marvels: Massive Medieval Castles and Deadly Dungeons.”

Day 52

1. Draw a castle. Include at least 5 elements we have studied and label them. Record your score out of 10 (1 point for each element drawn, 1 point for each element labeled.)

Day 53

1. During the Middle Ages, European architecture was dominated by the need for protection and defense. Massive, fortified castles were built to withstand attacks and project the power of kings and lords. Their thick stone walls, narrow windows, moats, and towers reflect a world concerned with survival and warfare. Function came before beauty, and architecture served military and political needs.

But as Europe became more stable, cities began to grow, and with them came a new focus: the Church. In the 12th century, the Gothic architectural style emerged, first in France. While Romanesque churches (such as those built in the 10th and 11th centuries) were dark, heavy, and fortress-like, Gothic cathedrals reached for the heavens. Builders developed new structural techniques like pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, which allowed churches to soar upward while filling the interior with light from large stained-glass windows. Famous examples include Chartres Cathedral in France and Cologne Cathedral in Germany. These buildings were not just places of worship; they were masterpieces of engineering, art, and faith.

As Europe entered the 15th century, a new movement was born: the Renaissance. Originating in Italy, this period saw a revival of the ideas of Ancient Greece and Rome. Architects began to reject the dramatic vertical lines and complex decoration of the Gothic in favor of harmony, balance, and proportion. They studied ancient ruins, read Roman texts like those of Vitruvius, and aimed to recreate the symmetry and geometry of classical temples. Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the first Renaissance architects, famously designed the dome of Florence Cathedral, blending Gothic techniques with classical forms.

In Renaissance architecture, features like columns, domes, rounded arches, and clear mathematical ratios returned to prominence. Buildings like the Tempietto by Bramante or St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome reflect a new mindset: one that valued humanism, order, and the rediscovery of ancient ideals.

Day 54

1. Read about Renaissance Architecture.
2. Watch the video “Who Shaped Renaissance Architecture?”

Day 55

1. Watch the first half of “Great Cathedral Mystery.”

Day 56

1. Watch the second half of “Great Cathedral Mystery.”

Day 57

1. Compare pictures of the Pantheon to the 16th-century Villa la Rotonda. What similarities can you spot? How do these buildings illustrate the Renaissance emphasis on reviving Roman ideals?
2. Watch the video “Why Does Renaissance Architecture Look Like That?”

Day 58

1. Watch the video about the Pazzi Chapel.
2. Watch the video about the Medici Palace.
3. Watch the video about the Palazzo Rucellai.

Day 59

1. Take a virtual tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. Be thorough! Look at all the areas.
2. Watch the video “St. Peter’s Basilica Explained.”

Day 60

1. Read about Michelangelo’s contributions to architecture.
2. Watch the video about understanding Michelangelo’s architecture.

Day 61

1. Watch the tour of the Sistine Chapel.

Day 62

1. Read about the characteristics of Renaissance architecture.
2. Design and draw your own Renaissance building. (Just the outside is fine.) Use at least 5 design elements characteristic of Renaissance architecture and label them. Record your score out of 10 points (5 for drawing, 5 for labeling).

Day 63

1. When the Renaissance began in Italy, architects looked back to the forms of ancient Rome: columns, arches, domes, and harmonious proportions. Their buildings were marked by balance and order, replacing the tall, vertical emphasis of the Gothic. As these ideas spread north, they encountered different traditions, climates, and tastes. In France, architects borrowed the classical language of Italy but blended it with their own medieval heritage. This fusion gave rise to the distinctive French Renaissance.

The French court was especially important in this process. When King Francis I returned from campaigns in Italy in the early 1500s, he brought artists and architects with him, determined to create palaces that matched the grandeur he had seen abroad. The result was a new type of residence—the château—which combined Italian classical orders (such as pilasters and arcades) with French features like steeply pitched roofs, tall dormer windows, and round corner towers. This created a silhouette that was both elegant and dramatic, suited to the Loire Valley landscape.

One of the most famous examples is the Château de Chambord, begun in 1519. Its enormous roofline, bristling with chimneys and towers, rises above a perfectly symmetrical plan. Inside, the famous double-helix staircase, possibly designed with input from Leonardo da Vinci, became a symbol of French Renaissance innovation. Another important site is Chenonceau, known for its gallery stretching across the River Cher, which shows the graceful marriage of classical decoration and French design.

2. Watch the video about Château Country.

Day 64

1. Here are some of the top features of French Renaissance architecture:

• Steeply Pitched Roofs – Unlike the flat Italian roofs, French châteaux often had steep slate roofs suited to northern climates.
• Tall Dormer Windows – Projecting dormers decorated with sculptural frames, breaking up the roofline and adding vertical emphasis.
• Classical Orders and Pilasters – Borrowed from Italy, but often applied decoratively rather than structurally (Corinthian, Ionic, Doric).
• Round Corner Towers (Turrets) – A holdover from medieval castles, combined with Renaissance symmetry to give châteaux their distinctive silhouettes.
• Chimney Stacks – Numerous, elaborately carved chimneys clustered across the roofline (famously at Château de Chambord).
• Balustrades and Roofline Ornaments – Stone railings, lanterns, pinnacles, and sculptural detail crowning upper levels.
• Moats and Courtyards – Many Renaissance châteaux retained medieval defensive elements, now transformed into decorative water features or grand entry courts.
• Integration of Gardens – Formal gardens arranged geometrically to complement the architecture, anticipating later Baroque designs.

2. How did the colder climate of France influence their adoption of Renaissance architecture?
3. Take a look at pictures of the following chateaux. Identify elements of French Renaissance architecture you see in the pictures!

• Chateau Montsoreau
• Chateau Amboise
• Chateau Gaillon
• Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau
• Chateau Chambord
• Chateau Fontainbleau

Day 65

1. Watch the documentary about Chateau Chambord. Look for French Renaissance architectural elements as you do!

Day 66

1. When Muslims, known as the Moors, ruled large parts of Spain from the 8th to the 15th centuries, they left behind some of the most remarkable buildings in Europe. Their architecture blended influences from the Middle East and North Africa with local traditions, creating a style now called Moorish architecture. Unlike the tall stone cathedrals of medieval Christians, Moorish buildings often emphasized courtyards, fountains, and intricate decoration, reflecting both religious values and the warm climate of southern Spain.

One of the most important examples is the Great Mosque of Córdoba (Mezquita). Begun by ʿAbd al-Rahman I in the 8th century, it features a forest of red-and-white horseshoe arches and double-tiered columns that create a sense of endless space. Later rulers expanded the mosque with domes decorated in mosaics and calligraphy, celebrating the glory of God through abstract beauty instead of human figures. After the Christian Reconquista, a cathedral was built in the center of the mosque, but much of the original Moorish architecture remains.

Another jewel of Moorish architecture is the Alhambra in Granada, built by the Nasrid dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries. This palace-fortress combines defensive walls with elegant palaces filled with arabesque decoration, muqarnas vaults, and tranquil courtyards. The famous Court of the Lions, with its carved marble fountain supported by twelve lions, shows the importance of water, gardens, and symbolic imagery in Islamic architecture. The Alhambra’s poetry-inscribed walls remind us that architecture was meant to be read as well as seen.

Other important structures include the Giralda Tower in Seville (originally a mosque’s minaret, later converted into a bell tower) and the ruined Medina Azahara, once a glittering palatial city near Córdoba. Together, these works reveal the richness of Moorish Spain, where architecture was both practical and symbolic, creating spaces that expressed faith, power, and beauty.

The legacy of Moorish architecture lived on even after the fall of Granada in 1492. Elements like the horseshoe arch, decorative tilework, and courtyards with fountains influenced Spanish design for centuries and even inspired later European movements, such as Mudejar and Neo-Moorish styles.

Day 67

1. Today watch “Southern Spain’s Rich Architectural History.”

Day 68

1. Here are some key terms necessary for studying Moorish architecture.

• Horseshoe Arch – curved arch typical of Moorish style
• Arabesque – intricate geometric and floral designs
• Muqarnas – “stalactite” decoration used in domes and vaults
• Calligraphy – decorative inscriptions, often in Arabic script
• Courtyard (Patio) – open central space, often with fountains and gardens
• Zellij– colorful ceramic tiles arranged in mosaic patterns

2. Read “The Timeless Beauty and Allure of Moorish Architecture.”
3. Use the Wikipedia article about Moorish architecture to look at pictures and examples. Can you name the elements of Moorish architecture you see?

Day 69

1. Read about the Generalife.
2. Watch the video “Gardens and the Generalife.”

Day 70

1. For nearly eight centuries, the Moors shaped the architecture of Spain. Buildings such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and the Alhambra of Granada displayed the signature features of Moorish architecture: the horseshoe arch, intricate arabesque decoration, carved stucco, and courtyards with flowing fountains. These spaces emphasized harmony, surface ornament, and the integration of architecture with gardens and water. Even after the Christian Reconquista (“reconquering”) advanced, many of these masterpieces remained standing, influencing the tastes and techniques of later builders.
2. When Christian kingdoms regained control, they often reused or adapted existing Moorish buildings. Minarets like the Giralda Tower in Seville were converted into bell towers, while mosques were reshaped into cathedrals. This blending of Islamic and Christian elements is known as Mudejar architecture, a transitional style where brickwork, tile mosaics, and wooden ceilings carried clear Islamic influences but served Christian purposes. Mudejar became a stepping stone between the Moorish past and the new Renaissance ideals arriving from Italy.
3. Look closely at the Mudejar architecture in the article.

Day 71

1.In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, Spain developed its own version of Renaissance architecture known as the Plateresque style. The term comes from platero, meaning silversmith, because the façades of these buildings were decorated with intricate carvings that looked like fine silverwork. Instead of focusing on structural innovation, the style concentrated on surface ornamentation—covering Gothic and Renaissance frameworks with a dense layer of sculpted reliefs, heraldic shields, medallions, and floral designs.

One of the earliest and most famous examples is the University of Salamanca, whose façade is covered in delicate carvings of coats of arms, figures, and scrollwork. Students at Salamanca still search for the hidden frog motif carved on a skull, a symbol said to bring good luck. In Valladolid, the Church of San Pablo and the Colegio de San Gregorio show similar richness, with portals that look almost like altarpieces.

The Plateresque style often blended with Mudéjar traditions (Islamic artistic influence in Christian Spain, pronounced moo-DAY-har) and Flamboyant Gothic design, creating a uniquely Spanish look. At the same time, early Renaissance elements such as classical columns, pilasters, and round arches began to appear in the decoration, showing how Spain was absorbing new ideas from Italy while keeping its own artistic identity.

In short, the Plateresque style represents Spain’s first great Renaissance expression—ornate, decorative, and deeply tied to its cultural crossroads. By layering classical motifs on Gothic and Mudéjar traditions, it gave Spain a distinct architectural voice before the arrival of more restrained forms later in the 16th century.
2. Take a tour of Salamanca, Spain.

Day 72

1. Let’s look at some more Plateresque architecture! The key features of Plateresque include: dense stone carving, heraldic shields, medallions with portraits, floral and arabesque patterns, and sometimes Mudéjar (Islamic-inspired) details. Buildings often mix classical elements such as columns, pilasters, and round arches with Gothic or medieval shapes. The overall look is rich, busy, and highly decorative. To recognize Plateresque style, look for façades that seem almost like stone lacework or an altar carved onto a wall.
2. Look at the following buildings (be sure to click on images and zoom in when possible to see details):

• The Church of San Pedro
• Seville City Hall
• Casa de los Conchas (House of Shells)
• College of San Gregorio
• Museum of Santa Cruz

Day 73

1. Watch the video “Exploring the Renaissance Wonders of Úbeda and Baeza.”

Day 74

1. Spain’s Renaissance architecture began with the dazzling Plateresque style in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. By the mid-16th century, some architects began to reject this crowded ornament in favor of cleaner lines and classical balance. This new Purist style emphasized proportion, geometry, and symmetry, reflecting a deeper understanding of Italian Renaissance ideals. Instead of overwhelming façades with decoration, architects highlighted classical orders—columns, arches, and pediments—in a more restrained way. Two leading figures were Diego de Siloé, who designed the main chapel of Granada Cathedral, and Alonso de Covarrubias, who worked on the Alcázar of Toledo. These buildings still look monumental, but their harmony and clarity set them apart from the busy surfaces of Plateresque works.
The next stage came under the reign of Philip II in the later 1500s, with a style named for his royal architect Juan de Herrera. The Herrerian style (sometimes called “Escorial style”) was even more austere. Ornament was almost eliminated, leaving massive stone walls, stark symmetry, and an emphasis on monumental scale. The best example is the Monastery of El Escorial (1563–1584), a vast palace-monastery complex near Madrid. Its long, plain façades and square towers projected royal power through severity and order rather than decoration.
Together, these three stages—Plateresque, Purist, and Herrerian—show how Spanish architecture moved from ornate and decorative to geometric and balanced, and finally to austere and monumental. This evolution reflects both changing artistic tastes and the political climate of Spain, as the grandeur of the Renaissance was adapted to Spanish traditions and the ambitions of its monarchs.
2. Watch the video “Granada Cathedral.”
3. Watch the video “El Alcazar de Toledo.”
4. Watch the video “The Monastery of El Escorial.”

Day 75

1. It’s time to go Baroque! Watch the video about Baroque Architecture.

Day 76

1. Read about baroque architecture.
2. Read this article too, paying special attention to the examples.

Day 77

1. Watch the documentary “Vaux-le-Vicomte: The Ingenious French Château That Inspired Versailles.”

Day 78

1. In the Baroque period, you can’t really separate the art from the architecture. Watch this documentary on Baroque art!

Day 79

1. Baroque art and architecture even found their way to England, although they did not make the same splash they did in mainland Europe. Watch the documentary ‘The English Baroque: An Unexpected Tale Of Art, War, And God.’

Day 80

1. Watch the full tourist’s guide to Versailles.

Day 81*

1. Read about Baroque Architecture in France.
2. Print and complete the Baroque Architecture Review. Record your score out of 14 (1 for each multiple choice, 3 for each short answer).

Day 82

1. Watch the lecture about Baroque and Rococo architecture.

Day 83

1. But enough about Rococo! Let’s move on to the Neoclassical era. Read about Neoclassical Architecture and identify two reasons it became popular after Rococo.
2. Watch the historical summary of Neoclassical Architecture.

Day 84

1. Watch the lecture on how architecture evolved from Baroque to Neoclassical. STOP at 45:50 with the Rise of Modernism.