Week 9: Final Essay

Week 9: Essay

Question: Why is it so important to understand the Crusades if one is to really understand the culture of the Middle Ages?

            The Middle Ages are similar to one big collage, encompassing many different pictures to be examined and appreciated as separate parts, it ultimately should be seen as one common whole. The Crusades are an essential part of the Middle Ages. Beginning in 1092 and going until 1291, the Crusades were the attempts made by the Christian military against Muslim forces for religious reasons including a quest that was to regain control of the Holy land (Crusades, 1996-2011).  While there were eight official Crusades, the first one proved to be the most successful (Crusades, 1996-2011). Most influentially, the Crusades left behind many lasting effects. The Crusades played an important role in history; people must first understand the Crusades in order to fully comprehend the culture of the Middle Ages.

            Once the Crusades came to a general end, they still had numerous effects on the society they left behind.  In one article, it said, “The effects of the Crusades influenced the wealth and power of the Catholic Church, Political matters, commerce, feudalism, intellectual development, social effects, material effects and the effects of the Crusades also prompted the famous Voyages of discovery” (The Crusades). The Crusades were obviously extremely important to the Middle Ages. This was probably due to the many different ways the Crusades seemed to leave their mark on history.  Not only did they greatly influence direct links like the church, but it also affected the less connected links like commerce and social habits. In fact most, if not all, of the effects of the Crusades are what make up any culture. Therefore, by saying that, people are saying that the Crusades really did affect the culture of the Middle Ages.

Commerce was probably one of the most important effects of the Crusades.  The same article as above explained, “The products of Damascus, Mosul, Alexandria, Cairo, and other great cities were carried across the Mediterranean to the Italian seaports, whence they found their way into all European lands” (The Crusades).  This demonstrates how the Crusades greatly extended the market for eastern products and wares in Europe. The entire market for what people could buy and sell changed remarkably. The Crusades also created a more constant demand for men and supplies. In addition, it helped to encourage ship building which would greatly affect not only commerce, but many other things as well. The culture of the Middle Ages was extremely tied into commerce in which the Crusades effected enormously.  To understand the commerce of the Middle Ages, people would certainly then need to have an understanding of the Crusades.

The political effects of the Crusades were also one of the very important effects. They show the need for an understanding of the Crusades if people wish to fully understand the Middle Ages.  One person wrote, “As to the political effects of the Crusades, they helped to break down the power of the feudal aristocracy and to give prominence to the kings and the people” (The Crusades).  This shows how the Crusades caused a change in the politics of the time. In specific, this passage explains that the feudal system that was in effect at the time was greatly weakened, and in turn helped to return some power back to the kings and the people. Also, cities seemingly gained many political advantages due to the expense of the crusading barons and princes. The burgher class during these twelfth and thirteenth centuries had acquired a lot of money from their contributions and loans they paid to their overloads.  In fact, they received charters conferring special and valuable privileges to them. Finally, the Crusades helped the advance of the Turks postponing the fall of Constantinople. This in turn helped the early Christian civilization of Germany time. With this time, they were able to gather strength and execute the Mohammedan invasion in the fifteenth century. All of these political changes to the Middle Ages surely proves that the Middle Ages could not be fully understood without better understanding the Crusades.

The Middle Ages cannot be fully understood without an understanding of the Crusades. One of the most important parts of the Middle Ages themselves, was the Crusades. They had great and lasting effects and especially influenced the culture of that time. The influence the crusades had effected things like currency, as well as, social and political economics. In order to completely understand the Middle Ages, one must have a good understanding of the Crusades and theses lasting effects they had.

Bibliography

Crusades. (2009). Retrieved May 3, 2011, from Catholic Encyclopedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04543c.htm

Crusades. (1996-2011). Retrieved May 3, 2011, from History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/crusades

Crawford, P. (1997). Crusades: Legacy. Retrieved May 4, 2011, from Medieval Sourcebook: http://www.the-orb.net/encyclop/religion/crusades/legacy.html

Effects of the Crusades. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2011, from Middle-ages.org: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/effects-of-crusades.htm

The Crusades. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2011, from Middle-ages.org: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/the-crusades.htm