| The
technique of coloring glass was known in Egypt and by the first century,
the Romans had mastered glass blowing. From written records, colored glass
windows in wooden frames are mentioned in the 6th and 7th centuries. In
the 11th and 12th centuries; however, the history of stained glass began
because every one was caught up in religion. There was a big cathedral
in every major town and these buildings were magnificent.
Long ago they didn't have the tools they needed for stained glass. You had to find someone who is an alchemist to make the glass. An alchemist is a person who studies chemistry and magic in the Middle Ages. You also needed to have a chemist, to figure out the colors. You needed a metallurgist to mine and cast the lead. Finally, you needed designers to draw your design. There were two reasons people used stained glass. The first was for showing off or decoration. The other was religious instruction. Only about one percent of the people could read and write. These people were the religious leaders. The people who couldn't read or write would go to the cathedrals. The priests would bring the religious stories to life using pictures in the stained glass windows. The most important thing of stained glass is the glass. Glass is mostly made up of sand and silica. It is warmed to a temperature of 2000 degrees, until it is the consistency of taffy. |