A long-view worldwide history, both religious and geopolitical, of cathedrals.

Founded between the 4th and the 5th centuries, cathedrals have been coveted by national powers. Although they remain the symbol of a Church’s influence in a place, with globalization, they have proven to be universal in nature. Starting in the 19th century, a patrimonial revolution began to take shape, as demonstrated by the Notre-Dame fire and the staggering donations to rebuild it: the cathedral now asserts itself as a worldwide cultural object, a touristic and media icon.