<b>Religion<b>

<i>Pilgrims<i>

Christians proved their faith by going on pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de

Compostela, 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 the
arts, especially architecture. The enduring symbol of Middle Ages architecture was
the cathedral. Magnificent church buildings were erected in thanks to God for the
blessings bestowed on the people. Towns competed to build the most glorious
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 hold
up the immense buildings of unprecedented height. Architects evolved new solutions
to old problems, devising the pointed arch and flying buttress to spread the weight
load from vaulted ceilings onto massive stone supports. The new building
technologies made possible great open cathedrals, large windows (often of
beautifully 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
cathedral at Chartres was begun in 1120 and completed in 1224 after burning twice
during construction.

Cathedrals were a great source of civic pride and prestige. Pilgrims and new
churchgoers brought increased revenues to the cathedral town.