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Mega-structures of the Middle Ages: the construction of religious buildings in Europe and Asia, c.1000–1500

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  • Prak, Maarten

Abstract

How did medieval builders manage to construct some of the tallest structures in the world without access to modern engineering theories? Construction drawings were limited to details and, with only a handful exceptions, manuals for builders only appeared in the late fifteenth century. By implication, the relevant knowledge had to be transferred on a personal basis. Its underlying principles must therefore have been reasonably simple. This article shows how a modular design, combined with on-site experimentation, guided much of the construction work on large projects such as European cathedrals, Middle Eastern mosques, Indian temples, and Chinese pagoda towers.

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  • Prak, Maarten, 2011. "Mega-structures of the Middle Ages: the construction of religious buildings in Europe and Asia, c.1000–1500," Journal of Global History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(3), pages 381-406, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jglhis:v:6:y:2011:i:03:p:381-406_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Maya Shatzmiller, 2015. "An early knowledge economy: the adoption of paper, human capital and economic change in the medieval Islamic Middle East, 700-1300 AD," Working Papers 0064, Utrecht University, Centre for Global Economic History.
    2. Buringh, Eltjo & Campbell, Bruce M.S. & Rijpma, Auke & van Zanden, Jan Luiten, 2020. "Church building and the economy during Europe’s ‘Age of the Cathedrals’, 700–1500 CE," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

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