Gothic was a pan-European style, therefore its study must be carried out throughout Europe. Nevertheless, its complexity makes it difficult to have a panoramic view of things happening from the 12th ct. to the end of the 16th ct. In most of the European countries, Gothic is divided into three periods: the beginning, maturity and its final development, period usually extending all along the Renaissance.

Although, traditionally, the last period of the Gothic style has been considered as a mannerist period, late studies suggest that it is precisely then when the Gothic displays all its resources and attains its summit. As far as the ribbed vault is concerned, it paves its way to show gothic aesthetics based on a growing complexity obtained by inventive constructive techniques that, on the contrary, tend to make its construction easier.