In France, England and Germany the Gothic style superseded the Romanesque with varying phases of transition, and with local development of character. In Spain the Moors had established a system of architecture thoroughly Eastern that was but little affected by the Gothic style, the influence of which is apparent in the later Spanish rendering of the Renaissance. In Italy the Gothic attained but slight development in comparison with more northern and western treatments, at least from a structural point of view. The Italian phase known as Lombardic is conspicuous for the evidence of Eastern and Byzantine traditions. _Phases of Gothic_ The phases and dates of the Gothic style in England are as follow, and lasted well into the sixteenth century, with periods of transition: Early English or Pointed, 1189 to 1272. Transition 1272 to 1307. Middle period or Decorated, 1307 to 1377. Transition 1377 to 1407. Late or ... Perpendicular, 1407 to 1547. [Illustration: No. 54. Early pointed Gothic Pier, elevation and plan.] In church architecture the general plan and essential features of the Romanesque style were preserved; but there was a complete change in the details, as well as a general lightening of the whole structure. The heavy columns or piers gave place to clusters of slender shafts, which supported the archivolts and vaulting ribs, these shafts being bound together at bases and capitals. The Triforium was retained, the openings being arched and similar in detail to the windows. _Early Pointed_ In the early variety of the Pointed Gothic the arches were acutely pointed, technically known as “lancet,” but later became more equilateral. The windows were narrow in proportion, and were single, or in groups. [Illustration: No. 55. Early pointed bay with Triforium. Window of Aisle is of later date.] Later they were divided into compartments, and the triangular head filled in with stonework, pierced with simple geometrical openings, known as plate tracery, thus forming a transition between the simple open lancet and the intersecting ribs, which constituted the true tracery of the later periods. Commonly shafts of circular section, with caps and bases, were employed in the windows, both internally and externally. Roofs were high pitched, and the ceilings vaulted, the vaulting ribs being moulded and decorated at the intersections with carved bosses. Mouldings were rich in effect, being composed of a succession of hollows or flutings, contrasted and divided by rounded ribs in relief. [Illustration: No. 56. Early Lancet Windows. A. Canterbury Cathedral. B. Lincoln Cathedral. C. Salisbury Cathedral.] [Illustration: No. 57. Early pointed Gothic Windows. Plate tracery.] Carved detail occurs in the capitals of shafts, sometimes in leaf-like forms in the bases and in the mouldings, also in the crockets, and finials of the gables, and pinnacles of the buttresses. [Illustration: No. 58. Early pointed Arch Mouldings.]