Architecture of Monasticism (U00858)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : ACE-3-AHMonk

Western monasticism has been a form of piety, a system of discipline and a principle of organisation of agricultural and economic activity, and of provision of social services from Early Christian times to the present. As a religious, economic, social and political agent, it has focussed thinking and has served as a laboratory for the development of ideas and practices that society at large later assimilated. The monastery, as architectural expression of a society in miniature, is, symbolically, lofty and elaborate and, practically, comprehensive and diverse. Its architectural elements have supplied a large part of the original typology of architecture - for example, for worship, meditation, deliberative assembly, eating, hospitality, treating the sick, storage of all kinds. Paying due attention to the priorities of different monastic orders, the course discusses the philosophical and utilitarian functions of the monastery, and traces their development. The activities that the monastery housed and engaged in are approached through a chronological sequence of studies of a number of Europe's most important monastic foundations.

? Keywords : abbey, monastery, religious orders, monastic orders, ecclesiastical architecture, church, cloister, romanesque, gothic, mediaeval, reformation, renaissance, baroque, religious revival

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : AH2A & 2B; or Honours entry to History of Art or its combined degrees; or Honours entry to BMus (Music) or by agreement of the Head of Subject Area

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Architecture - History, (School of Arts, Culture and Environment, Schedule A)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) 40 minutes per week for 11 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will understand how the monastery is typically organised, what its parts are and how the definition of its functions made it an influential architectural exercise, one from which typologically varied secular architecture had much to learn. They will see how architectural form relates to monastic order - and therefore the various forms of piety practised and religious belief espoused - the setting of the complex in city or countryside, and the epoch in which the foundation was established. They will become familiar with some of the principal monastic complexes of the Western world.