<b>Religion<b>

<i>Pilgrims<i>
Christians proved their faith by going on pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de Compo
stela, and even Jerusalem. Pilgrims who had visited Santiago de Compostela wore
cloth cockleshells on their clothing as a badge of distinction.
<i>Cathedrals<i>
The prosperity of the twelfth century and later was increasingly expressed in th
e arts, especially architecture. The enduring symbol of Middle Ages architecture
was the cathedral. Magnificent church buildings were erected in thanks to God f
or the blessings bestowed on the people. Towns competed to build the most glorio
us cathedral and the loftiest spire reaching toward heaven. Cathedrals were the
largest capital investments of the period, taking as much as a century to build
and costing a fortune.
The predominant building material for cathedrals was stone, which minimized the
hazard of fire. There was little steel at the time, and iron was too soft to hol
d up the immense buildings of unprecedented height. Architects evolved new solut
ions to old problems, devising the pointed arch and flying buttress to spread th
e weight load from vaulted ceilings onto massive stone supports. The new buildin
g technologies made possible great open cathedrals, large windows (often of beau
tifully stained glass), and high spires. The French pioneered the new cathedrals
. Notre Dame of Paris was begun in 1163 and finished 72 years later. The cathedr
al at Chartres was begun in 1120 and completed in 1224 after burning twice durin
g construction.
Cathedrals were a great source of civic pride and prestige. Pilgrims and new chu
rchgoers brought increased revenues to the cathedral town.