Gothic architecture allowed tall interiors and large stained-glass windows due to which feature?

• A. Flying buttresses
• B. Round arches
• C. Thick walls
• D. Flat roofs

Answer: (C)

Gothic interiors soar and windows drink light because a system moves the weight of tall vaults to external supports rather than forcing thick walls to do the work. Flying buttresses act as outside arches that grasp the walls and transfer the outward thrust of the vaulted ceilings to external piers. This relief lets the nave walls be thinner and perforated with large windows, including expansive stained glass, while still keeping the structure stable.

With that in mind, round arches don’t provide the same outward-thrust control as the combination of pointed arches and external buttressing, and thick walls would actually block large openings rather than enable them. Flat roofs aren’t characteristic of Gothic construction, either.