After the end of the Western Roman Empire, Rome began to be influenced by the countries of Northern Europe. The Pope crowned Charlemagne, or Charlemagne, emperor, who attempted to spread Roman traditions to Northern countries. They already regarded Charlemagne as their emperor, and he helped preserve and disseminate many classical writings and works of art. Carolingian art, the art made during the reign of Charlemagne, transformed the tight, intertwined, 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, was born. The Romanesque, or Roman-type, era existed from the 9th century to the 13th century AD. This era marked the birth of the feudal system, a middle-aged system of popular government, in which the upper class maintained control of the lower class. Lower-class people, known as peasants, often served on lords' plantations in exchange for food and shelter. There was no real middle class in this government; people were farmers, lords or rulers. In this period the first corporations were formed; each of them was made up of a collection of people with similar talents, such as the stonemasons guild and the wool guild. The streets were very small, the size of a 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 through icon paintings, which were like seeds as they sprouted everywhere. Romanesque art was influenced by Byzantine icons and featured designs unheard of before. The drawings were somewhat curvilinear and depressing. The figures of this era were m...... middle of the paper ...... the architecture was full of light, cheerful and high. Despite the differences, Gothic and Romanesque churches shared some common characteristics. First of all, basilica churches were present in both eras. The basilicas are line-shaped churches, although some are crossed. All types of churches had a narthex or atrium. All churches also had an elevated position where the priest could stand while delivering sermons, as the priest was seen as an otherworldly being while speaking the word of God. After the sermon, the priest would often go down into the narthex to talk to the people and prove that he was still a human being. The Romanesque and Gothic periods were both based on religion and featured many new types of architecture. Both periods featured artwork depicting sadness and depression. Unlike most other periods, these will be known more for their architecture and religion than anything else.