How Fear of Doomsday Once Helped Build Europe’s Stunning Cathedrals
The TVN show Useless Knowledge Around the World: Mediterranean recently took viewers on a journey through the history and sociology of Marseille, France, revealing surprising connections between religion, football, and immigration.
In a recent episode, Han Dong-il, a Vatican-trained lawyer, visited the Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica, a hilltop landmark overlooking the city. Inside the church, adorned with rich golden mosaics in Byzantine style, actress Bae Doona raised a compelling question: why are European cathedrals so extravagant?
Han linked the cathedral’s ornate charm to the medieval belief in the Millennial Reign — the idea that the world would meet its end after a thousand years of Jesus’ second coming. This doomsday fear drove people to donate everything to churches, abandon daily life routines like farming and marriage, and dedicate themselves completely to prayer as the year 1000 approached.
The world, however, did not end. When 1000 AD passed uneventfully, people expressed relief with cries of “Thank God!” and began restoring and glorifying churches in gratitude, repairing frescoes and sealing roof leaks. This pivotal moment triggered a cathedral-building boom that led to over 350,000 religious structures erected across Europe.
Hosts like Yoon Jong-shin recalled the 1999 “Millennium Panic,” drawing parallels between irrational fear during both eras. Science communicator Kim Sang-ook added a rational twist, joking that a false prediction should lead us to first reconsider the premise.
Even today, symbolic remnants remain. For instance, model ships hanging from Notre-Dame’s ceiling embody prayers and gratitude for safe returns from the sea — an emotional connection between ancient fears and modern hope.
The episode also shined a spotlight on Orange Vélodrome Stadium through the insights of science policy expert Lee Jung-mo. The stadium became more than a sports venue; it represented how football evolved from aristocratic roots to working-class culture post-Industrial Revolution.
With massive shifts in labor from farms to factories, football provided a constructive way for workers to foster cooperation. The sport’s organized structure mirrored the hierarchies of early industrial capitalism while giving workers dignity and recreation.
Legendary football clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool originated from worker organizations — textile laborers in Manchester and port workers in Liverpool. Football unified entire cities and ultimately played a role in transforming cultural perspectives, especially around immigration.
As North African immigrants surged into Marseille, the city became a Mediterranean melting pot. Icons like Zinedine Zidane, of Algerian descent, and Kylian Mbappé, whose family hails from Cameroon, rose to global prominence. Their success challenged exclusionary views and spurred a cultural shift where immigrant athletes are now celebrated symbols of national pride.
Despite these progressive shifts, discussions led by Han and Lee stressed the need for deeper conversations around immigration policy and public perception.
The series Useless Knowledge Around the World: Mediterranean continues to air every Monday at 10:10 PM on TVN, delivering compelling insights at the intersection of history, culture, and modern society.
