1. Class Notes: Chapter 14 Section 1
The Crusades: Effects
Class Notes: Chapter 14 Section 1

2. 1. Church Loses Power
Only 1st Crusade “successful” in taking the objective - Jerusalem.
Later Crusades were tarnished by atrocities and corruption.
The Massacre at Acre (3rd Crusade)
The Sack of Constantinople (4th Crusade)
The Children’s Crusade - send the “pure of heart” – they get abducted, abused, sold into slavery, never make it!
With all these losses, people were beginning to wake up and think – maybe these Crusades were not “God’s Will” but corrupt politician’s will (the pope and kings).
The church becomes vulnerable – people begin to question its authority.

3. 2. Kings Gain Power
Many knights and nobles who went off to fight in the Crusades never returned. It was a chance for the kings to Centralize their power (without strong nobles to oppose them).
Remember the Feudal Power Pie Chart – Kings are moving up!
The knights and nobles begin to lose their privileged position on the battlefield – not as powerful so therefor not as important!

4. 3. Technology Improves
Trade = Cultural Diffusion – the spread of ideas!
The Crusaders returned with many innovations from their experience in the Middle East.
The Muslims had the House of Wisdom ~800 A.D. – where all the known knowledge of the world was stored while the Europeans were in the dark ages.
Crusaders brought back knowledge of medicine, architecture. Castles & Gothic Cathedrals were heavily influenced by ideas from the Middle East.
Mathematics – algebra is an Arabic Word!
Roman Numerals vs Arabic Numerals I = 1, V = 5, X = 10

5. 4. TRADE increases
When the Crusaders bring back luxuries from the Middle East (such as silks and spices), the people back home WANT MORE!
Basic Economics: When demand for a product goes up – enterprising people will be more likely to brave the risks necessary (travel was still risky) to bring the product to market.