The Romanesque style emerged across Europe in the 11th-12th centuries and was characterized by some shared features while also varying between regions. It spread due to religious orders constructing monasteries, pilgrimages like the Camino de Santiago, and increased Church influence. Romanesque art focused on religious themes and reflected the values of feudal society, with the Latin cross a common church design promoted by orders like Cluny and Cister.

2.  The Romanesque was an artistic predominant style in Europe during the 11th and
12th century and part of the 13th. It was not a product of an alone nationality or
region, but it arose in a gradual and almost simultaneous way in Spain, France, Italy,
Germany and in each of these countries it arose with own characteristics, though with
sufficient unit as to be considered to be the first international style.


3.  It spread around the whole Europe, due to:
 · Expansion of the religious orders (Cluny and Císter) that construct
monasteries. These are source of wealth and culture and urban center of the
company.
 · The peregrinations (in Spain the Romanesque gets across the Camino de
Santiago).
 · Increase of the influence of the Church.
 ·And the Crusades

4.  The kings, nobles, bishops and abbots of the monasteries stimulated the
construction of the big churches and sometimes there were villagers that
were financing and constructing them. The works were realized by
specializedcraftsmen as architects, stonecutters, painters, etc. The
Romanesque art was especially a religious art, which was reflecting the
values of the new feudal society

5.  The Latin cross plan is very common in the churches of the Latin
Christianity; and particularly it was developed in the monastic
churches of Cluny and Cister and in the churches called of
peregrination (Camino de Satiago).
