Final answer:
The Gothic style first emerged in France in the 12th century, with the Chartres Cathedral being an early example. It evolved from the Romanesque architectural style due to changes in socioeconomic, political, and theological contexts in France.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gothic style first emerged in France during the 12th century. This architectural style is characterized by features such as high naves, pointed arches, flying buttresses, and large stained glass windows.
One of the earliest examples of this style is the Chartres Cathedral in France, which began its reconstruction into the High Gothic style after a fire in 1194. The transition from Romanesque architecture, with its thick walls and fewer windows, to the slender, more vertical, and illuminated Gothic design took place due to a combination of socioeconomic, political, and theological factors, strongly connected to the rise in power of the French monarchy and the resettlement of the population to cities from the countryside.