How can we distinguish Romanesque architecture from earlier architecture?
How can we distinguish Romanesque architecture from earlier architecture? What really differentiates Romanesque from its immediate predecessors is stone vaulting. While basilicas of the early Christian, Carolingian, and Ottonian periods primarily featured wooden roofs, Romanesque churches often have stone barrel vaults.
What was a distinguishing feature of Gothic architecture?
Gothic architecture has a set of unique features that set it apart from all other styles. Most importantly, it is characterized by long pointed arches, flying exterior buttresses, stained-glass windows that were longer than before, ribbed vaults, and spires.