The Cathedral

The great urban cathedrals that served as the literal seats (in Latin, “cathedra”) of episcopal power in medieval Europe are the subject of this excellent 12-hour, 24-part release from the Teaching Company's Great Courses series. William R. Cook, professor of history at the State University of New York at Geneseo, presents a lucid, well-organized overview that covers their origin and significance (both secular and religious), architectural elements, stylistic development over time, and continuing influence on modern church design. Cook briefly discusses the early basilica form and the Romanesque style that emerged around A.D. 1000, but his emphasis is on the great Gothic edifices built in France, England, Germany, Italy, and Spain during the High and Late Middle Ages. The Cathedral covers technical details of construction as well as aesthetics, but always in a fashion intelligible to the educated layperson, and Cook nicely interweaves historical information on the builders and patrons into the narrative, along with expertly chosen photographs and illustrations. Featuring separately available course books (with lecture outlines, transcripts, glossary, bibliography, etc.), this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)