How can gothic architecture be distinguished from the earlier, romanesque style?

In its use of stained glass

Explanation:

stained glass, in the arts, the coloured glass used for making decorative windows and other objects through which light passes.

based on the images pictured above, the major difference between the two cathedrals: the cathedral of notre dame and the amiens cathedral, is that the cathedral of notre dame emphasizes the horizontal lines while the amiens cathedral emphasizes the vertical lines.