Long before the term was used to refer to that weird, pale kid next door, Gothic was a style of architecture. In this quiz we'll learn what made Gothic architecture all the rage in medieval Europe.
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Question 2 of 21
What did the term "Gothic" originally mean?
dark
rude and barbaric
ornate
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Proponents of classical architecture derisively referred to this angular style as "gothic," after the "rude and barbaric" tribes of Germanic Goths.
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Question 3 of 21
During what years did Gothic architecture flourish?
1600s to 1800s
late 12th to mid-16th centuries
14th to 16th centuries
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Gothic architecture originated in France in the late 12th century and spread throughout Europe through the mid-1500s.
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Question 4 of 21
What is a rose window?
a window dedicated to the Virgin Mary
a circular window divided into segments
a picture window
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This round, segmented window is a central feature in Gothic cathedrals.
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Question 5 of 21
What was the enclosed doorway at the western end of a cathedral called?
sunset portal
nave
Galilee porch
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The term Galilee porch refers to Christ leading his disciples into Galilee after his resurrection.
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Question 6 of 21
Gargoyles are a favorite sight on Gothic cathedrals. What function do they serve?
protection from evil spirits
rain spouts
lightning rods
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Carved into the shapes of animals or demons, gargoyles serve as rain spouts.
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Question 7 of 21
What is a flying buttress?
a gargoyle with wings
a tall tower
a wall support
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A symbol of the Gothic style, a supportive flying buttress is arched and connects with a load-bearing wall.
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Question 8 of 21
What is considered the first building in Gothic style?
Windsor Castle
the Church of Saint-Denis
Notre Dame Cathedral
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The Church of Saint-Denis in France was completed in 1144.
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Question 9 of 21
What is the tallest church in the world?
Ulm Minster
Westminster Abbey
Notre Dame Cathedral
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The Gothic-style Ulm Minster, begun in 1377, but not finished until 1890, has a tower that soars to 528 feet (160.9 meters).
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Question 10 of 21
What did innovations in wall support allow in a Gothic building?
porticos
columns
more windows
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Flying buttress and ribbed vaults meant walls did not have to be so substantial, allowing for more windows.
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Question 11 of 21
What common type of Gothic arch looks as though it's been flattened?
two-dimensional arch
lancet arch
depressed arch
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The depressed arch, wider that it is tall, seems to have been flattened.
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Question 12 of 21
Where could you find the Five Sisters Window?
York Minster
Westminster Abbey
Florence Cathedral
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The Five Sisters is in York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe.
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Question 13 of 21
This Paris church is known for its numerous stained glass windows.
Notre Dame Cathedral
La Sainte-Chappelle
Chateau de Vincennes
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La Sainte-Chappelle was consecrated in 1248.
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Question 14 of 21
How many years did it take to build Notre Dame Cathedral?
25
103
182
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Initial construction took 182 years, but renovations have continued through the centuries.
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Question 15 of 21
What is an example of Early English Gothic style?
Westminster Abbey
St. Paul's Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
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Early English is often called lancet style, and Salisbury Cathedral boasts many narrow lancet windows.
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Question 16 of 21
What is Europe's oldest active synagogue?
Old Synagogue
Old New Synagogue
New Synagogue
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Old New Synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic, was finished in 1270 and was one of Prague's first Gothic buildings.
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Question 17 of 21
Who built Malbork Castle?
the Pope
William the Conqueror
Teutonic Knights
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The Teutonic Knights completed the brick Gothic structure in 1406.
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Question 18 of 21
What was the resurgence of Gothic architecture in the 1800s called?
Gothic revival
neo-Gothic
both the above
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Gothic revival, or neo-Gothic, was a movement that took hold in England in the 19th century.
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Question 19 of 21
In what year was Henry VII Lady Chapel completed?
1526
1426
1256
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Henry VII Lady Chapel, finished in 1526, at Westminster Abbey, is considered to be the last true Gothic building.
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Question 20 of 21
What did the architectural details of a Gothic cathedral convey?
the wealth of the patron
the power of the church
the majesty of God
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Every feature, from the massive size to the decoration, was purportedly meant to illustrate the majesty of God.
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Question 21 of 21
What building was called the "Cathedral of Commerce" upon its 1913 completion?
the Empire State Building
the Woolworth Building
the New York Stock Exchange
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The Woolworth Building's soaring spire is reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral.
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