Reviews the Age of the Cathedrals Art and Society 980-1420

Open Preview

See a Problem?

We'd honey your aid. Let the states know what'south wrong with this preview of The Historic period of the Cathedrals by Georges Duby.

Thanks for telling usa about the trouble.

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign upwards.

Community Reviews

· 481 ratings · 28 reviews

Start your review of The Age of the Cathedrals: Fine art and Order, 980-1420

Jul 27, 2017 J.M. Hushour rated it really liked it

This is 1 of those books that you know is insanely skilful and important but then far above your caput, that it's hard to pivot down why. Naturally, any attempt to investigate the mental and social evolution of detail times and places is going to exist circuitous, only Duby manages somehow to condense it downwardly into several vertical, architectural themes, pull them apart, and then written report changing patterns of thought, Christian cosmologies, and, ultimately, art, grew out of the cultural miasma. There's much This is one of those books that you lot know is insanely good and important but so far in a higher place your caput, that information technology's hard to pin downwards why. Naturally, any attempt to investigate the mental and social evolution of particular times and places is going to be complex, merely Duby manages somehow to condense it down into several vertical, architectural themes, pull them apart, and then study changing patterns of thought, Christian cosmologies, and, ultimately, art, grew out of the cultural miasma. There's much to love hither, but my favorite bits were on the wanderer mendicant Christianities that emerged with St. Francis and others and the way this paved the way both to lay religion, the growth of local Christian protuberances (leading correct to the Reformation, maybe? Duby doesn't become that far, though), and the commodification of fine art, ironically. Dense and terrific! ...more

Noem mij gerust dapper of een doorzetter.
Dit boek over de evolutie van de machtsverhoudingen , het rijpen van de geesten en de invloed hiervan op de kunst en de bouwkunst tijdens de Middeleeuwen is dan wel interessant, maar het is zo moeilijk en onleesbaar geschreven dat de helft van het boek gewoon onverstaanbaar is. De zinnen zijn zo lang dat de essentie ervan verloren gaat. In een kluwen van bijzinnen moet je ontwaren wat de auteur nu eigenlijk wil zeggen.
Spijtig is dat, want ik heb echt wel Noem mij gerust dapper of een doorzetter.
Dit boek over de evolutie van de machtsverhoudingen , het rijpen van de geesten en de invloed hiervan op de kunst en de bouwkunst tijdens de Middeleeuwen is dan wel interessant, maar het is zo moeilijk en onleesbaar geschreven dat de helft van het boek gewoon onverstaanbaar is. De zinnen zijn zo lang dat de essentie ervan verloren gaat. In een kluwen van bijzinnen moet je ontwaren wat de auteur nu eigenlijk wil zeggen.
Spijtig is dat, want ik heb echt wel veel geleerd uit dit boek, maar het had véél meer kunnen zijn. Ik ben nu ook gewoon blij dat het uit is! ...more

This menstruation is often thought of as static, as if nothing of much consequence was going on. Nothing could be further from reality - this was a period of many changes which would ferment and become the Renaissance, the signal where Duby's history ends. It begins just before the first millennium occurs, a date that many idea would coincide with the second coming of Christ and the end of the world.

That didn't happen, of course, just the next four centuries would see a shift of artistic influence a

This menstruation is often thought of equally static, equally if nothing of much consequence was going on. Cypher could be further from reality - this was a menstruation of many changes which would ferment and become the Renaissance, the signal where Duby's history ends. It begins just before the start millennium occurs, a appointment that many thought would coincide with the second coming of Christ and the end of the globe.

That didn't happen, of course, simply the next four centuries would see a shift of artistic influence abroad from the monasteries with their emphasis on the afterlife to more than expression of worldly concerns. This trend, though, was non a simple ane. There were disruptive cultural leaps forwards and backwards, and it is the strength of Duby's history that he makes these shifts comprehensible. .

The cathedrals referred to in the championship are an instance of this diversity. With their soaring spires and high vaulted ceilings, they were clearly intended to inspire the worshiper toward the heavens. But their structure was expensive, and would have never taken place head information technology not been for the wealth created principally from new methods of farm production and distribution. Commerce fueled the construction of cathedrals every bit much as religious motives.

Growing wealth recalls Christ's teachings about being able to serve two masters - God and the mammon of cloth wealth. One powerful reaction against wealth was begun by Francis of Assisi and his emphasis on the vows of poverty. In fact, Duby goes so far as to say what remains of authentic Christianity today goes directly back to Francis.

The Cathar motility, harshly suppressed by the Church, was another turn toward a purified and simplified religion. This is not the mention the various heresies of the time too challenged church teachings and practices, giving rising to the Inquisition, and its effort to stamp them out.

A pivotal figure in the growing struggle for power between the clergy and secular princes was Innocent III who became pope in 1198. He was the starting time pope to specifically state that the popes were not only successors to Peter, only "lieutenants" of Christ and as such should have complete control over all princes of the world. He ambitiously wanted to reform the monasteries, eliminate all heresies and excesses and establish the truth (his version) everywhere. I recollect he embodies some of the paradoxes of this flow. He genuinely wanted to improve the actuality of the church, but he gear up in place forces that would ultimately lead to the reformation.

Another growing conflict was between intellectual factions - those who held strictly to Aristotle and his abstractions, and those who began to question them. A compromise of sorts was worked out by Thomas Aquinas who wanted to enshrine reason every bit crucial to a potent religion.
A meaning doctrinal development took place with the Council of Latran in 1218 where the doctrine of transubstantiation was worked out. This formulation of what takes place with the eucharist, or communion, may seem similar obscure nonsense, just in a way information technology represents the struggle of the historic period as to whether to look heavenward toward insolvable mysteries or to remain on the side of earthly reason. How can Christ be truly present in the bread and wine of the communion service? It involves a statement well-nigh appearances staying the aforementioned, simply substances actually irresolute.
It'southward hard to maintain this mental balancing act, and as time went on, I think it becomes symbolic of a gradual shift away from the clergy and the transcendent to the laity's more than earth-bound considerations. In paintings and in sculpture, for instance, Christ may nevertheless exist the center of attention, but he is no longer the supreme gauge, remote and judgmental, but a historical figure who suffers and dies, a very homo fate.
There's much more to be said most the volume, but it's a swell introduction to the menstruation and its sources suggest a multitude of further details that could exist explored.

...more

Dec 31, 2014 Laurie rated it actually liked it

Over my head when I first read it years agone, I have returned to this book often for in depth understanding of the interrelationship betwixt the Church and the arts in the middle ages. The text requires thoughtful reading and prior cognition of the menses is helpful for a greater grasp of the material. Here, Georges Duby writes with a detailed depth of the discipline matter that wows the full general reader. Hidden gems of insight if one is willing to work.

Nov 26, 2013 Allan Roth rated it it was amazing

My favorite history book. Have read it three times...each time I larn more.

Одна з перших книжок з середньовічної історії, яку я прочитала. Наслідки відчуваю до сьогодні, що видно зі списку відміченого. Класика, хай деякі твердження Дюбі давно вже підважуються, але собори назавжди в моєму серці.

An intriguing but very loosely structured history of the Centre Ages. Total of colorful detail, this volume suffers somewhat from a very loose chronological organization and a style of exposition that alternates between extremely broad statements about unabridged artistic movements, and extremely specific citations of individual fine art objects or obscure medieval sculptors. All in all, a flake of a slog, amend suited to experts already deeply familiar with its subject and willing to hear an unstructured th An intriguing but very loosely structured history of the Middle Ages. Full of colorful detail, this book suffers somewhat from a very loose chronological organization and a manner of exposition that alternates between extremely wide statements about entire artistic movements, and extremely specific citations of individual art objects or obscure medieval sculptors. All in all, a bit of a slog, better suited to experts already deeply familiar with its subject and willing to hear an unstructured though brilliant exposition of themes than to a novice trying to understand a historical progression. ...more

Really written every bit an accompanying commentary on a book with images virtually medieval fine art. Masterly because of the width of the subject field, illustrating the diversity that lies backside the middle ages and the thorough evolution in time (transition to modernity, in dissimilarity to the "automnal sentiment of Huizinga), and of course very erudite.
Negative: sometimes a too pathetic style, the titles of the parts practise not correspond with the content, and the telescopic is mainly limited to culture. Actually written equally an accompanying commentary on a book with images nearly medieval art. Masterly considering of the width of the subject, illustrating the diversity that lies behind the middle ages and the thorough evolution in time (transition to modernity, in contrast to the "automnal sentiment of Huizinga), and of course very erudite.
Negative: sometimes a too pathetic style, the titles of the parts do not represent with the content, and the scope is mainly express to culture. ...more

Feb 25, 2012 Mafi rated it liked it

Recommends it for: Medieval lovers

Recommended to Mafi by: College

Quite amazing actually.
Lots of information. At the get-go I kept some sort of a distance, because as of data seemed to be biased, in a polite way, a footstep from being judgmental, afterward on I reached the decision that probably it was Saramago'southward translation that was doing this. Merely his passion for History and what led things to go a certain way is beyond belief.
What interested me the most was this notion of power associated with religious belief and the illusion of righteousness, Quite amazing really.
Lots of data. At the showtime I kept some sort of a distance, because every bit of information seemed to be biased, in a polite way, a step from being judgmental, after on I reached the determination that probably it was Saramago'due south translation that was doing this. But his passion for History and what led things to go a sure way is across belief.
What interested me the nearly was this notion of power associated with religious belief and the illusion of righteousness, that was supposedly beingness used to protect pour people but too to enslave them in a certain way. Not that nowadays are much different, only more thin. Far more thin.

It is 1 of those books you need to read and re-read. Lots and lots of information.

...more

Jun 22, 2019 Kate rated it liked it

I felt this book could have benefited from an inversion. Rather than painting history with a broad brush before mentioning illustrative examples of menses art, it would have been more appropriate (and interesting) to innovate the art beginning and so explicate how its attributes are reflective of the order that produced it. This is, after all, a book near art. It is not a loftier schoolhouse textbook, but it reads like one with its overabundance of generalizations and lack of thoroughly examined histori I felt this book could have benefited from an inversion. Rather than painting history with a broad castor before mentioning illustrative examples of period art, it would have been more appropriate (and interesting) to innovate the art first and so explicate how its attributes are cogitating of the society that produced it. This is, after all, a book near art. Information technology is not a loftier school textbook, only it reads similar one with its overabundance of generalizations and lack of thoroughly examined historical examples. As a scholarly work, I expected text- and image-heavy analysis. The survey of medieval society as it related to art was less useful and less insightful because of its relative inattention to bodily art. ...more than

Con su erudición, Duby nos mete de lleno en la Edad Media descubriendo el arte a través de la sociedad y la sociedad a través del arte.
Y con su maestría narrativa, Duby nos hace protagonistas de esta época, situándonos en primera línea, como si fuéramos protagonistas directos de los acontecimientos que va narrando.
En resumen: una delicia de libro que nos transporta desde los inicios del feudalismo a la crisis de la Baja Edad Media tomando como hilo usher el arte de cada momento y el uso que Con su erudición, Duby nos mete de lleno en la Edad Media descubriendo el arte a través de la sociedad y la sociedad a través del arte.
Y con su maestría narrativa, Duby nos hace protagonistas de esta época, situándonos en primera línea, como si fuéramos protagonistas directos de los acontecimientos que va narrando.
En resumen: una delicia de libro que nos transporta desde los inicios del feudalismo a la crisis de la Baja Edad Media tomando como hilo conductor el arte de cada momento y el uso que se le da.
No le doy cinco estrellas porque la edición contiene varias erratas que desmerecen el resultado final. ...more

Uma boa perspetiva a cerca dos simbolismos da construção eastward a sua relação com a religião. Uma obra de relevo para quem se ocupa de matérias de estruturas religiosas e processos evolutivos. Ainda que, pelo próprio autor, é uma obra que vale sempre a pena ler!

Mar 02, 2019 Julie rated it liked information technology

I enjoyed the sociological and theological explanations of the building of the cathedrals. Would not take finished information technology without Google images. The book has an expectation that you are knowledgeable of French cathedrals....oops I missed that role of history class.

Duby has written a fascinating story of the interaction in the second half of the Middle Ages between developments in lodge, organized religion and architecture. One of my favorite authors of history books.

Un historien mais aussi united nations écrivain. Un peu dense par endroit, ce qui fait qu'on s'y perd un peu... Un historien mais aussi un écrivain. Un peu dense par endroit, ce qui fait qu'on due south'y perd united nations peu... ...more

illustrations are few, in blackness & white, and not particularly interesting. Haven't read the text withal. illustrations are few, in black & white, and not particularly interesting. Oasis't read the text all the same. ...more

An amazing experience that take u.s. trough out the Middle Ages.

Uma experiencia maravilhosa que nos leva ao longo da Idade Média.

Interesante, pero para mi difícil de leer al menos en la versión española.

Reconozcámoslo, Georges Duby es united nations maestro medievalista por antonomasia. Pretender reseñarle implica emprender una ardua tarea, pero no un imposible. En "La época de las Catedrales", Duby nos invita a sobrepasar los límites del tiempo-espacio para decantar, a modo novelesco, el discurso sobre el arte, la liturgia y la monumentalidad divina, y las mentalidades del entramado social.

En el umbral: visibilizar la estructura armónica del medioevo a través del arte, el 'art de la French republic', la Catedral.

Reconozcámoslo, Georges Duby es un maestro medievalista por antonomasia. Pretender reseñarle implica emprender una ardua tarea, pero no un imposible. En "La época de las Catedrales", Duby nos invita a sobrepasar los límites del tiempo-espacio para decantar, a modo novelesco, el discurso sobre el arte, la liturgia y la monumentalidad divina, y las mentalidades del entramado social.

En el umbral: visibilizar la estructura armónica del medioevo a través del arte, el 'art de la France', la Catedral. Gracias a esa belleza sensible, sostiene el autor, el alma se eleva a la verdadera belleza y de la tierra en la que yacía sumergida resucita al cielo gracias a la claridad de los esplendores.

En el centro de la obra, una sola idea: Dios es luz. Luz inicial, increada. Luz creada por la luz, donde participan todas las estructuras y transmite, atravesando los altos muros y los rosetones, esa iluminación divina y mística que unifica y controla. Ya lo vaticina san Bernardo: "El alma busca la luz siguiendo la luz". Esa áurea es la que lleva a la Catedral a ser en sí misma el espejo de Dios.

Así, la Catedral se nos presenta como un espacio que se yergue hasta el cielo como ensueño; una pieza de arte monumental, iconográfica y escultórica -ya en tiempos de Suger- que significó el renacimiento de las ciudades y el comercio. Una especie de "documento" hecha de piedra, desde donde se puede apreciar las representaciones de una sociedad en torno a sus temores, sus miedos, su mística; a su eterna búsqueda por encontrar a Dios encarnado. Allí se han conservado infinitas huellas dejadas por los trabajos de los hombres, el bajo pueblo, los artesanos. Allí también la luz perpetúa la Creación como una incandescencia que procede de una fuente única, el Dios luz.

La época de las Catedrales es un texto de especialización que todo lector eurocentrista debe contar en su biblioteca. Es la conjunción perfecta de la historia cultural, del arte y de las mentalidades, al atravesar con mucha ambición todos los campos del conocimiento, y entregarnos una compleja y completa personalidad de la época.

...more than

Sep 10, 2015 Michael Holm rated information technology really liked it

A history by and large about French republic in the Centre Ages with emphasis upon developments in art. Patently invasions from the eastward and Viking raids from the north forced France into feudalism, defeating Charlemagne's endeavor to restore the quondam Roman order. Virtually 1000 Ad these incursions ceased and Europe was able to go on its development to civilization. This respite resulted in improvements in agriculture and an increase in prosperity, making possible the building of the cathedrals. The author has fi A history mostly about France in the Eye Ages with emphasis upon developments in art. Manifestly invasions from the eastward and Viking raids from the n forced France into feudalism, defeating Charlemagne's endeavor to restore the old Roman order. Most 1000 AD these incursions ceased and Europe was able to continue its evolution to civilization. This respite resulted in improvements in agronomics and an increase in prosperity, making possible the building of the cathedrals. The author has first-charge per unit credentials for this work.

The prose is curiously empathetic, perhaps an result of the translation. At times it seems cocky-consciously elaborate and flowery. Only the effect is to nowadays the thinking of a people who suddenly erected a cathedral in almost every large town. There is little detail of private cathedrals, rather an explanation of the artistic impulses and blueprint of the catamenia. He reports several attempts to reform the Cosmic church from insiders who were disgusted with the luxurious life of the clergy and monasteries. Such corruption was rampant in the church and in royalty.
St Francis of Assissi was the leading case of such an attempt to reform by his case. An interesting outcome of the Black Death plague was the rise in prosperity for many survivors.

This volume illuminated the economic science of the heart ages for me because I am unfamiliar with that period. Simply this history suffers from poor chronological progression, making the exposition confusing at times.

...more

Ik heb Dubuy's klassieke studie over de cultuurveranderingen in westeuropa tussen 980 en 1420 en nog eens op nageslagen naar aanleiding van in afgelopen drie jaar verschenen studies zoals over de Bourgondiers en de Habsburgers. De indeling met titels als Het klooster, De Kathedraal en Het Paleis verraadt al een beetje dat de toenemende ver-internationalisering van stedelijke en hofcultuur en van handelsverbanden (denk bv ook aan Origo's 'de koopman van Prato'!) tijdens het schrijven van dit boek Ik heb Dubuy's klassieke studie over de cultuurveranderingen in westeuropa tussen 980 en 1420 en nog eens op nageslagen naar aanleiding van in afgelopen drie jaar verschenen studies zoals over de Bourgondiers en de Habsburgers. De indeling met titels als Het klooster, De Kathedraal en Het Paleis verraadt al een beetje dat de toenemende ver-internationalisering van stedelijke en hofcultuur en van handelsverbanden (denk bv ook aan Origo's 'de koopman van Prato'!) tijdens het schrijven van dit boek in 1967-1968 minder centraal stond dan vandaag de dag in de geschiedsschrijving het geval is. Stilistisch ook wat minder vloeiend dan we tegenwoordig gewoon zijn geraakt. Leest soms ronduit taai. Dat neemt allemaal niet weg dat Dubuy's beschrijving bijvoorbeeld van de Moderene Devotie na ruim 50 jaar m.i. nog steeds overeind staat. ...more than

Wenn man an dice ofttimes sehr dunklen Kathedralen denkt, erscheint die prägnante Kapitelüberschrift "Gott ist Licht" pathetisch und leicht schwülstig, was auch auf Teile des Werkes zutrifft. Das Werk über Kunst und Gesellschaft des Mittelalters ist immer noch wichtig und anregend. Wenn man an die oft sehr dunklen Kathedralen denkt, erscheint die prägnante Kapitelüberschrift "Gott ist Licht" pathetisch und leicht schwülstig, was auch auf Teile des Werkes zutrifft. Das Werk über Kunst und Gesellschaft des Mittelalters ist immer noch wichtig und anregend. ...more than

Passionnant, comme tous les livres de Georges Duby, même si le contenu est désormais un peu daté. United nations incontournable dans toute bibliothèque de médiéviste.