After the end of the Western Roman Empire, Rome began to be influenced by the countries of Northern Europe. The Pope crowned Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, emperor, who was trying to spread Roman traditions to the northern countries. They already considered Charles the Great their emperor, and he helped preserve and disseminate many classical writings and works of art. Carolingian art, art produced during the reign of Charlemagne, transformed the tight, interwoven, and complicated Celtic art into a more relaxed, open, and narrative style. When combined with images of three-dimensional figures, a new type of art, Romanesque art, was born. The Romanesque, or Roman-like, era existed from the 9th to the 13th century AD. This era marks the birth of the feudal system, a middle-aged system of popular government, in which the upper class maintained control over the lower class. Lower-class people, called peasants, often served on lords' plantations in exchange for food and shelter. There was no real middle class in this government; people were peasants, lords or rulers. The first guilds were formed at this time; each of them was made up of a group of people with similar talents, such as the Stonecutters' Guild and the Woolen Guild. The roads were very small, the size of a pedestrian path, and the city was surrounded by a fortified wall to protect the citizens. People believed that the Earth was a microcosm of the spiritual world. Christianity spread throughout Northern Europe thanks to icon paintings, which were like seeds in that they grew everywhere. Romanesque art was influenced by Byzantine icons and featured previously unseen designs. The designs were somewhat curvilinear and depressing. The characters of that time were m...... middle of paper ...... c the architecture was full of light, joyful and tall. Despite the differences, Gothic and Romanesque churches shared some common characteristics. First of all, basilica churches were present in both eras. Basilicas are line-shaped churches, although some are crossed. All kinds of churches had a narthex or hall. All churches also had a high place where the priest could stand while delivering sermons, because the priest was considered an otherworldly being when speaking the word of God. After the sermon, the priest often went down to the narthex to chat with people and prove that he was still a human being. Both the Romanesque and Gothic periods were religiously based and featured many new types of architecture. Both periods featured artwork depicting sadness and depression. Unlike most other periods, these will be known for their architecture and religion rather than anything else..