Thursday, May 19, 2011

Effects of the Crusaders

The Crusades were a series of military conquests to re-capture the Christian Holy land and conquer the city of Jerusalem. On November 27, 1095 Pope Urban II started the Crusades. He wanted the sacred land to be in Christian control and wanted to unite Europe against one common enemy, the Islamic Empire. The first Crusade was in 1099. Pope Urban II sent soldiers to defend the Byzantine Empire from Muslim Invasion. The troops were successfully able to capture Jerusalem. Then, in the later crusades the Arabic Leader, Saladin reconquered Jerusalem for the Muslim Empire. After refusing to give the land back to Christian rulers. The English King Richard I and Saladin made a treaty that allowed Christians to journey to they Holy Land. These Crusades would have major effects on European life during the middle ages.

After the Crusades, Europe would advance both intellectually and economically.When the returned from the conquests, the ships that carried the Crusaders brought back many goods like spices, rugs, jewelry, and glass. These items were in extremely high demand in Europe and caused trade routes to open back up. The reopening of trade routes caused currency to be used more frequently. After the vikings looted and destroyed villages and monasteries, people resorted to bartering for their goods, rather than buying them with money they did not have. Another vastly important contribution the Crusades made for Europe was the contributions of Muslim Scientists and Mathematicians. When the Crusaders returned from their military campaigns they brought lots of literature and ideas back with them. This greatly contributed to European Medicine, Mathematics, Sciences, and Technologies. The increase in medical knowledge was especially important in Europe during this time because disease was rapidly spreading and they did not know how to prevent it. In conclusion, the Crusades improved daily life for the people of Europe by reopening trade routes and increasing Europe's knowledge.

Works Cited
Image: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/images/crusaders.jpg

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