ITCT A. Bordoni PV Classe 3tB a.s. 2013/14

476 A.D.: Fall of the Roman empire Poverty and Unsafety 622 A.D.: Beginning of the Islam expansion 673 A.D.: Siege of Costantinople Inventions: Greek fire and stirrups 700 A.D.: Viking invasion ; Irish monks discover Ireland

800 A.D.: Charlemagne promotes science and education for all (even for a few women), schools are founded in monasteries. The lessons are in Grammar, logic, rhetoric,geometry, arithmetic, astronomy and music Meanwhile in the east a new progress: universities, discovery of chemical elements, Indian numerals, kerosene, new canons in medicine and optometry 1096 A.D.: The crusades

1139 A.D.: new inventions: the crossbow Translation of Greek works into Latin 1216 A.D.: first univerisities in Europe: Bologna, Paris,Oxford,Pavia. New inventions: windmills,spectacles,compass,spinning wheel. The silk road:Marco Polo travelled throughout Asia.

1350 A.D.: the plague A.D.: new invention: printing press 1492 A.D.: Columbus discovers America A.D.: The renaissance with Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Via Francigena is the common name of an ancient road and pilgrim route running from France to Rome, though it is usually considered to have its starting point much further away, in the English cathedral city of Canterbury. As such, the route passes through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. The route was known in Italy as the " Via Francigena " ("the road that comes from France"). In mediaeval times it was an important road and pilgrimage route for those wishing to visit the Holy See and the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul. The Via Francigena is the common name of an ancient road and pilgrim route running from France to Rome, though it is usually considered to have its starting point much further away, in the English cathedral city of Canterbury. As such, the route passes through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. The route was known in Italy as the " Via Francigena " ("the road that comes from France"). In mediaeval times it was an important road and pilgrimage route for those wishing to visit the Holy See and the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul. The Via Francigena was not a single road, like a Roman road, paved with stone blocks and provided at intervals with a change of horses for official travellers. Rather, it comprised several possible routes that changed over the centuries as trade and pilgrimage changed. After all, all roads lead to Rome. Depending on the time of year, the political situation, and the relative popularity of the shrines of the saints situated along the route, travellers may have used any of three or four crossings of the Alps and the Appennines. The Lombards financed the maintenance and security of the section of road through their territories as a trading route to Rome, avoiding enemy-held cities such as Florence. Another important point is that, unlike Roman roads, the Via Francigena did not connect cities, but relied more on abbeys. The Via Francigena was not a single road, like a Roman road, paved with stone blocks and provided at intervals with a change of horses for official travellers. Rather, it comprised several possible routes that changed over the centuries as trade and pilgrimage changed. After all, all roads lead to Rome. Depending on the time of year, the political situation, and the relative popularity of the shrines of the saints situated along the route, travellers may have used any of three or four crossings of the Alps and the Appennines. The Lombards financed the maintenance and security of the section of road through their territories as a trading route to Rome, avoiding enemy-held cities such as Florence. Another important point is that, unlike Roman roads, the Via Francigena did not connect cities, but relied more on abbeys. Today some pilgrims still follow in Sigeric's ancient footsteps and travel on foot, on horseback or by bicycle on the Via Francigena, although there are far fewer pilgrims on this route than on the Way of St. James pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. [10] Roughly only 1,200 pilgrims were estimated to have walked the VF in One reason for this is a lack of infrastructure and suitable support facilities. Affordable pilgrims' accommodation and other facilities can be hard to come by for those travelling along the route. Today some pilgrims still follow in Sigeric's ancient footsteps and travel on foot, on horseback or by bicycle on the Via Francigena, although there are far fewer pilgrims on this route than on the Way of St. James pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. [10] Roughly only 1,200 pilgrims were estimated to have walked the VF in One reason for this is a lack of infrastructure and suitable support facilities. Affordable pilgrims' accommodation and other facilities can be hard to come by for those travelling along the route.

Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi- circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style, marked by pointed arches. Examples of Romanesque architecture can be found across the continent, making it the first pan-European architectural style since Imperial Roman Architecture. The Romanesque style in England is traditionally referred to as Norman architecture.

CHARACTERISTICS W ALLS : The walls of Romanesque buildings are often of massive thickness with few and comparatively small openings. The building stone was often used in comparatively small and irregular pieces, bedded in thick mortar. B UTTRESSES : Romanesque buttresses are generally of flat square profile and do not project a great deal beyond the wall. In the case of aisled churches, barrel vaults, or half-barrel vaults over the aisles helped to buttress the nave, if it was vaulted. In the cases where half-barrel vaults were used, they effectively became like flying buttresses. Often aisles extended through two storeys, rather than the one usual in Gothic architecture, so as to better support the weight of a vaulted nave. In the case of Durham Cathedral, flying buttresses have been employed but are hidden inside the triforium gallery. A RCADES : An arcade is a row of arches, supported on piers or columns. They occur in the interior of large churches, separating the nave from the aisles, and in large secular interior spaces, such as the great hall of a castle, supporting the timbers of a roof or upper floor. Arcades also occur in cloisters and atriums, enclosing an open space. C OLUMNS : Columns are an important structural feature of Romanesque architecture. Colonnettes and attached shafts are also used structurally and for decoration. Monolithic columns cut from a single piece of stone were frequently used in Italy, as they had been in Roman and Early Christian architecture. They were also used, particularly in Germany, when they alternated between more massive piers.

A first church devoted to St. Michael Archangel was built on the location of the Lombard Palace chapel, but it was destroyed by a fire in The current construction was begun in the late 10th century and was completed by The basilica was the seat of numerous important events, including the coronations of Louis III (900) and Frederick Barbarossa (1155), among the others.

San Michele Maggiore can be considered the prototype of other important medieval churches in Pavia such as San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro and San Teodoro. However, it differentiates from the others in the use of sandstone instead of bricks, and for the Latin cross plan with a nave and two aisles and a much extended transept. The façade has five double and two single mullioned windows and a cross, which are a 19th-century reconstruction of what was thought to be the original scheme. Bas reliefs in horizontal bands portray human, animal and fantastic figures. The façade is decorated by numerous sandstone sculptures of religious or profane themes; they are however now much deteriorated. The crypt, with a nave and two aisles, is located immediately under the altar: it houses beautifully decorated capitals and the monument of the Blessed Martino Salimbene.

This church was built in the second half of the 12° century to accommodate the Ultraticino Hospital, especially meant for the pilgrims to the Holy Land, and for this reason the church and the hospital were dedicated to the Virgin of Betlem. The pilgrims who came here were housed and treated if necessary to help them resume their journey. Only an original porch of the south side of the façade of the old hospital still exists. Santa Maria in Betlem Church, Pavia. The Façade is made of red bricks in the shape of a hut which is divided in three parts separated by buttresses with sandstone carvings. Around the sloping roof there are blind galleries and interwoven arcs. In the centre the sandstone portal is covered with vines, animals and dragons. A double lancet window, two “oeil-de-boeuf”, a cross and a simple lancet window are the only openings in the façade.

The Interior is divided in three naves with vault supported by pillars. At the end of the central nave there is a dome in Lombard style. The central and right apse were rebuilt in In the left apse there is also a fresco of the Virgin Mary sitting on a throne with the Saints and Alessandro Momoli and his wife a her feet dating back to In the first chapel on the left there is a precious altar of the 18° century, where a rare group of wooden sculptures is situated. This group represent the Virgin Mary sitting on the throne and holding the Infant Jesus. With his right hand he is blessing, while with the other he is showing an open book with the famous words “Ego sum lux mundi”. The Virgin of the Star is renowned and worshipped for her numeros miracles and the church is visited by a lot of pilgrims still today.

Durham Cathedral is the greatest Norman building in England. It was constructed between 1093 and 1133 in the Romanesque style. It was founded as a monastic cathedral and it is cherished not only for its architecture but also for its incomparable setting. The Norman conquest of England in 1066 and its influence on the country contributed to the birth of the Anglo-Norman style. The culture impact is found everywhere.

The building is notable for the ribbed vault of the nave roof, with transverse arches supported by slender piers alternated with massive columns. These features appear to be precursors of the Gothic architecture of Northern France a few decades later, doubtless due to the Normans, although the building is considered Romanesque. Buttressing made it possible to build taller buildings and open up the intervening wall spaces to create stained glass windows. Saint Cuthbert's tomb lies at the East in the Cathedral and it remains a place of pilgrimage.

The Tower of London is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The architecture is Gothic-Norman.

The Imperial State Crown is one of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and symbolises the sovereignity of the monarch. The crown has existed in several versions since the 15th century. The modern version of the Imperial State Crown is of a design somewhat similar to that of St Edward's Crown, but shorter and encrusted with jewels: it includes a base of four crosses, above which are four half-arches surmounted by a cross. Inside there is a purple velvet cap with an ermine border. The Imperial State Crown includes many precious gems, including 2,868 diamonds: pearls, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. The crown includes several famous jewels and Queen Elizabeth’s Pearls. When it is not in use, it is kept with the other Crown Jewels on display at the Jewel House in the Tower of London.

Abbiati Giada Autelitano Lucia Bargiggia Michela Bergonzi Sara Botto Noemi Di Dedda Egle Ferrari Veronica Francavilla Gaia Ghisio Irene Missurini Rebecca Munari Gianluca Rando Daniele Ravelli Daniela Rocca Clara Rosario Amanda Rosti Federica Sotropa Alexandra Vanelli Alex Zacconati Mattia