BP6

For the cathedrals which my group had, Salisbury & Florence, the regions can be seen quite well represented within them.  In their construction and color we can see how the surrounding area of each influenced their design.  For instance in the Florence cathedral we can see how the rounded shapes with abrupt edges and a red tiled roof greatly imitated the Italian buildings within the city.  This in a way helps the cathedral to both stick out to the people yet be familiar so that it is a place of importance but still attracts the populace to it.  For the Salisbury cathedral however we can definitely see the Gothic influences and the stark contrast between it and the surrounding area.  With its high dark spires against the green rounded surroundings we can interpret that the creators wanted a foreboding presence of reverence in this less populated area.  The key here then is to attract large populations with kindness against the mob and harshness againt the few as to overpower them.  So influence, in all its forms, was a major undertaking in cathedral construction.  The designers were charged in a way to building these structures as to have a hold on the local populace.  Power, control, influence each had its own part within these societies with the catholic church holding all three during these time periods.  It seems to me at least that the true government of the time were these constructs.