Markim Church, Sweden 1200

Markim Church in Sweden was erected by Romanesque architects sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries, at a time when Christianity was still expanding its reach into Northern Europe. The story of this building is a study in gender, race, and class. As a sacred space, the church provided a spiritual haven and a site of patriarchal authority. However, the construction of such a large building depended on the labor of men and women who likely occupied very different rungs on the societal ladder. We can consider how the Romanesque architectural style, marked by its solid, fortress-like appearance, reflects the turbulent social and political landscape of the medieval period. The thick walls and small windows suggest a sense of protection and stability, but also of insularity. Looking at this church, one might ponder the ways in which the construction of such buildings helped shape the identity and experience of the people who lived in its shadow.