Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/325

 mjM nmiin GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE EUROPE. IN GENERAL INTRODUCTION.! I. INFLUENCES. 1. Geographical. — The nations of Western Europe had come into existence. Germany was the centre of the Western Empire and the Kingdoms of France, Italy and Spain were also becoming strong united states. Russia, Sweden and Norway had little to do with Western Europe. England had become thoroughly united under the Norman Kings. The map (No. io8) gives the general distribution of the various countries in the thirteenth century, ii. Geological. — Refer to each country. iii. Climate. — Refer to each country. It has been pointed out that the sun, in Northern Europe, is more suitable for Gothic than Classic Architecture, for it is a sun wheeling somewhat low on an average round the sky, and shadows are better caught by out- standing buttresses and the flying lateral members of a Gothic 1 Before treating of the development of the style peculiar to each country, a general outline sketch is given.