Irenaeus, Siteadmin, Check users, oversight, Administrators
351,139
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mLine 2:
Line 2: − + − + − + − +
Reverted edits by Sorry8roNoHetero (talk) to last revision by VargasMilan
[[Image:Crusader.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A returning Crusader]]
[[Image:Crusader.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A returning Crusader]]
'''The Crusades''' (1095-1291) were a series of European Christian attacks on Islam, fought during the middle ages. They were the military responses made by Christians from western Europe to the Pope's pleas to take land from Islamic influence. The '''First Crusade''' created new Latin states in the Holy Land. Subsequent crusades were less successful except when they attacked Byzantium. Other medieval movements against those who did not support their religion were also called crusades. The crusades ended with the Islamic recapture of all of their land in 1291, when the the last city controlled by crusaders, Acre, fell.
'''The Crusades''' (1095-1291) were a series of European Christian campaigns into the Middle East, fought during the middle ages. They were the military responses made by Christians from western Europe to the Pope's pleas to re-capture the Holy Land from Islamic influence. The '''First Crusade''' created new Latin states in the Holy Land. Subsequent crusades were less successful except when they attacked Byzantium. Other medieval movements against heretics and infidels were also called crusades. The crusades ended with the Islamic recapture of all the Holy Land in 1291, when the the last city controlled by crusaders, Acre, fell.
The crusades comprise a major chapter of [[Middle Ages|Medieval History]]. Extending over three centuries, they attracted every social class in western Europe. Kings and commoners, barons and bishops, knights and commoners—even teenagers—all participated in these expeditions to the eastern end of the Mediterranean. The motives of the crusaders were numerous: some sought riches; many sought adventure; most were moved by blood lust alone. Historians unfortunately stress the central role of religious fervor, while mentioning as well the socio-economic factors crucial in enticing larger contingents. For example, crusaders often were fulfilling their feudal obligations. There were strong links between the papal reforms, the social necessity of violence and the exploitation of this inherent revivalistic imagination of the age of the Papacy.<ref> Douglas James, "Christians and the First Crusade," ''History Review,'' (Dec 2005), Issue 53</ref>
The crusades comprise a major chapter of [[Middle Ages|Medieval History]]. Extending over three centuries, they attracted every social class in western Europe. Kings and commoners, barons and bishops, knights and commoners—even teenagers—all participated in these expeditions to the eastern end of the Mediterranean. The motives of the crusaders were numerous: some sought riches; many sought adventure; most were moved by faith alone. Historians stress the central role of religious fervor, while mentioning as well the socio-economic factors crucial in enticing larger contingents. For example, crusaders often were fulfilling their feudal obligations. There were strong links between the papal reforms, the social necessity of violence and the exploitation of this inherent revivalistic imagination of the age of the Papacy.<ref> Douglas James, "Christians and the First Crusade," ''History Review,'' (Dec 2005), Issue 53</ref>
The crusades failed to achieve the permanent control of the land controlled by other religions. However, their influence was wide and deep. Much of
The crusades failed to achieve the permanent control of the Holy Land. However, their influence was wide and deep. Much of
the crusading fervor carried over to the successful attacks on the Moors (Muslims) in Spain and the non-Christian Slavs in eastern Europe. Politically the crusades weakened the decrepit Byzantine Empire, but temporarily kept the Muslims away from it. The First Crusade strengthened the moral leadership of the
the crusading fervor carried over to the successful fights against the Moors (Muslims) in Spain and the pagan Slavs in eastern Europe. Politically the crusades weakened the decrepit Byzantine Empire, but temporarily kept the Muslims away from it. The First Crusade strengthened the moral leadership of the
papacy in Europe, but the failures of the later crusades weakened both the crusading ideal and respect for the papacy
papacy in Europe, but the failures of the later crusades weakened both the crusading ideal and respect for the papacy
Contact with the East widened the scope of the Europeans, ended their isolation, and exposed them to an rich civilization. The economic effects of the crusades were modest, but they did reopen of the eastern Mediterranean to Western commerce, which itself had an effect on the rise of great cities such as Venice and the emergence of a money economy in the West.
Contact with the East widened the scope of the Europeans, ended their isolation, and exposed them to an rich civilization. The economic effects of the crusades were modest, but they did reopen of the eastern Mediterranean to Western commerce, which itself had an effect on the rise of great cities such as Venice and the emergence of a money economy in the West.