Relics, often hidden today and housed in museums, shaped the Christian faith and the everyday lives of people throughout the Middle Ages. They were highly sought-after trade goods and inspired artists to achieve artistic excellence in reliquary production. They were the reason for numerous church constructions, such as St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, and helped finance these projects. They prompted people to embark on pilgrimages, thereby initiating improvements in medieval infrastructure and giving rise to several markets. This book excitingly describes the economic impacts of the cult of relics for the first time against the backdrop of medieval mentality and the emerging capitalism.