Gothic.—Fourth to Twelfth Century.—Another great and early factor in ecclesiastical architecture is the Gothic. In the early stages of Christianity, the Goths, a Teutonic race, dwelt between the Elbe and the Vistula. They subverted the Rome Empire. They, like other countries, received the Christian religion from Rome. Each country after its own fashion endeavoured to imitate the architecture of Rome. As these countries were semi-barbarous and unpolished, their work was necessarily rude. This, in conjunction with the invasions of Italy by the Goths, led to the term "Gothic." This period commenced in the fourth century, and was entirely changed in the twelfth, by the introduction of the pointed arch.

Gothic.—1145-1550.—This marked a new era, and established a new style of architecture, the transition from the Norman, or Romanesque, to the Mediæval Gothic. Several attempts were made to introduce new names in lieu of Gothic, for to name anything Gothic was looked upon with askance.

Early Gothic IVth century to XIIth century.
Anglo-Saxon500-1066 A.D.
ANGLO-NORMAN
William I1066.
William II1087.
Henry I.1100.
Stephen1135.
Henry II.1154-1189. Transition.
EARLY ENGLISH
(FIRST POINTED, OR LANCET)
Richard I.1189.
John.1199.
COMPLETE, OR GEOMETRICAL POINTED
Edward I.1272-1307.Transition.
DECORATED
MIDDLE POINTED, OR CURVILINEAR
Edward II.1307.
Edward III.1327-1377.
PERPENDICULAR
THIRD POINTED, OR RECTILINEAR
Richard II1377.Transition.
Henry IV.1399.
Henry V.1413.
Henry VI.1422.
Edward IV.1461.
Edward V.1483.
Richard III.1483.
Henry VII.1485}Tudor Period.
Henry VIII.1509-1547

With the close of the Tudor Period, Mediæval Gothic practically died out. There crept in then the English Renaissance, followed after by what is called "The Revival of Gothic Architecture."

ENGLISH RENAISSANCE
about
The Elizabethan, or First Period1547-1620.
The Anglo-Classic, or Second Period1620-1702.
The Anglo-Classic, or Third Period1702-1800.
The Revival of Gothic Architecture in England. 1800.