Gold was the Mortar

Amiens Cathedral's construction, along with other medieval cathedrals, was significantly funded by commoners' contributions, often surpassing those of nobility and royalty. This challenges the conventional narrative that delays in cathedral building were solely due to wars and natural disasters. The study examines financial flows, patronage dynamics, and historical records from wills and documents, revealing that commoners played a pivotal role in sustaining these monumental projects. Case studies of cathedrals like York, Toulouse, Poitiers, and Lyon illustrate how political disputes, conquests, and social hierarchies further influenced construction timelines.

Kraus, H. (2019). Gold was the Mortar (, Ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429264290