Gothic and Mudejar Styles in Medieval Spain

Cultural Coexistence in Medieval Spain

A key element was the School of Translators of Toledo, which reached its heyday in the 12th and 13th centuries under Alfonso X. In this center, Arab, Jewish, and Christian specialists translated philosophical and scientific works from Arabic. These texts, brought by Muslims, contained the wisdom of Eastern, Greek, and Latin authors.

Cultural Innovations

Literary Works

Literary works were varied, and in them, Romance languages began to prevail over Latin. Key poetic genres included:

• The popular Mester de Juglaría (e.g., The Poem of My Cid).
• The learned poetry of the Mester de Clerecía (e.g., Gonzalo de Berceo).
• The courtly poetry of the Catalan troubadours.

The first theatrical works emerged, such as the Auto de los Reyes Magos, alongside written historical chronicles, books of chivalry, and narrative works.

Scientific Contributions

Scientific contributions were limited, primarily confined to cartography, with notable maps produced by Catalans and Majorcans.

Education and Universities

Schools developed significantly. Among the first universities founded were those in Palencia, Salamanca, Valladolid, Lleida, and Huesca.

The Gothic Style in the Iberian Peninsula

Gothic art developed between the 12th and 15th centuries in all the Christian kingdoms of the peninsula.

• Architecture: The most representative building was the cathedral. In Castile, notable examples include the cathedrals of Burgos, León, and Toledo (13th century). In Aragon, highlights include those of Barcelona, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca.
• Sculpture: This was primarily focused on the façades of cathedrals (such as León and Burgos), and numerous tombs were crafted.
• Painting: This included altarpieces and miniatures. The stained glass windows of the Cathedral of León are magnificent examples.

Mudejar Art and Its Features

This is an original architectural style from the Iberian Peninsula, developed between the 12th and 16th centuries. It mixes Christian influences (Romanesque and Gothic) with Muslim ones.

It uses brick as the main material because it was cheap, allowed for quick construction, and Muslims were experts in its use. Buildings were constructed in a Romanesque and, later, Gothic style, with interiors decorated with stylized plaster plant motifs and exteriors covered with richly decorated brickwork.

The most important buildings were churches with bell towers, synagogues, palaces, and fortresses.

Origin and Regional Styles of Mudejar Art

Its origin is in Sahagún (León), where 12th-century Muslim masons (builders) were called upon to accelerate ongoing construction. In the 13th century, it spread to other areas of Castile, Andalusia, and Aragon.

Castilian Mudejar

Focal points included Zamora, Salamanca, Valladolid, Ávila, Guadalajara, Madrid, Segovia, and Toledo. Highlights include the churches of San Lorenzo and San Tirso (Sahagún), the Synagogue of El Tránsito (Toledo), and the churches of Cuéllar (Segovia).

Aragonese Mudejar

The Aragonese style is characterized by rich exterior decoration, the use of glazed ceramics, and bell towers based on the Muslim minaret model. The towers of Teruel are notable examples.

Andalusian Mudejar

In Andalusia, funeral chapels, churches, palaces, and synagogues were built. Notable examples include the Alcázar of Seville and the Synagogue of Córdoba.