The document provides an overview of the Crusades and the economic changes in medieval Europe between 800-1500 CE. It can be summarized as follows:
1) The Crusades were a series of religious wars called by the Pope starting in 1095 CE with the goal of retaking the Holy Land from Muslim rule. The First Crusade succeeded in capturing Jerusalem in 1099 CE.
2) Economic changes led to population growth in medieval Europe. The development of new farming techniques like the three-field system and use of horses increased food production. Guilds also emerged to regulate trades and improve conditions for merchants and artisans.
3) A commercial revolution expanded agriculture, business and trade routes to Asia and Africa.
1. Part One: The Crusades
The Formation of Western Europe
2. The Crusades
The Beginning Goals of the Crusades
• The Age of Faith inspired • Regain control of the Holy
wars of conquest Land (Palestine)
• 1093 - Byzantine emperor • Get rid of quarreling knights
sent letter asking for help who threatened peace
defend Constantinople • Younger sons hoped to earn
against the Muslim Turks land or win glory
• Pope Urban II read it, issued • Later, merchants got involved
a call for a Crusade - “holy for profit and to gain trade
war” routes
3. The First Crusade
• Pope assured those who died a place in heaven
• Early 1097 - 3 armies gathered at Constantinople
– People of all classes
– Unprepared, couldn’t agree on a leader
• 1099 - 12,000 Crusaders captured Constantinople
4. The Crusades continued…
• Crusaders captured 650
miles of land and divided
it into 4 feudal Crusader
states
• 1144 - Muslims take back
Edessa; could not be
regained in the Second
Crusade
• 1187 - Jerusalem fell to
Muslim leader, Kurdish
warrior Saladin
5. Third Crusade
• Third Crusade led by three powerful rulers
• Philip II - France
• Frederick I - German emperor
• Richard the Lion-Hearted - king of England
• Phillip II abandons Crusade after arguing with
Richard and Frederick I drowned
• 1192 - Richard and Saladin make peace after
many battles
• Saladin kept Jerusalem but allowed Christian
pilgrims to visit the city
6. Crusading Spirit Dwindles
• Fourth Crusade: Crusaders • Most of Spain controlled by
loot Constantinople in 1204 Moors, a Muslim people
• Two more Crusades strike • During the Reconquista -
Egypt, but fail to weaken Christians drove Muslims
Muslims from Spain, 1100 to 1492
• 1212 - thousands of children • Spanish monarchs,
set out on a “Children’s Ferdinand and Isabella used
Crusade” to conquer the Inquisition to unify the
Jerusalem country under Christianity
• Most died or were enslaved • Court to suppress heresy;
• Non-Christians were expelled,
tortured, killed
7. Effects of the Crusades
• Crusades showed the power of Church in convincing
thousands to fight
• Women who stayed home manage the estate and
business affairs
• Merchants expand trade between Europe and SW Asia
• Failure of later crusades weakens pope and nobles,
strengthens kings
• Crusades create lasting bitterness between Muslims and
Christians
9. Economic Change #1:
A Growing Food Supply
1. Warming temperatures = more usable land
2. Harnessed horses replace oxen in pulling plows
and wagons
• Horses plow 3X more each day
3. Around 800, starting using a three-field system
• Two fields would be planted, let one rest
• All led to increased food supply which = an
population increase
10. Economic Change #2:
The Development of Guilds
• Guilds developed
• Organization of people in the same occupation working together
to improve economic and social conditions of its members
• Merchant guilds begin first
• Controlled number of goods to keep prices up
• Skilled artisans formed craft guilds (men and women)
• Set standards for quality, prices, wages, working conditions
• Guilds supervise training of new members of their craft
• Apprentice, Journeyman, Master
• Guilds made more, better products available to everyone
• Influenced government and economy
11.
12. Commercial Revolution
• Expansion of agriculture, business and trade known
as the Commercial Revolution
• Trade fairs were held several times a year in town
– People came from all around
– Shift from everything being produced on a manor
• Trade routes expanded to Asia, N. Africa, Byzantium
• Increased business made merchants more willing to
take chances
– Bills of exchange helped w/ different coinage systems
– Letters of credit to avoid need for carrying cash
– The Church forbid lending money at interest - usury
