1. Aim: What were the effects of the Crusades on “ Christendom ” and western Europe? The Crusades enabled the Italian City-states fleets to re-conquer their home waters – as well as those held by the Byzantines. The great battles should not be allowed to disguise another major event – the conquest of the Mediterranean ’ s maritime trade routes. Fernand Braudel

2. Significance of Crusades: Economic Expansion $$$ Plunder and looting of Holy Land Building of fleets to carry Crusaders and then trade Enrichment of merchant class – through carrying Crusaders and trade rights with Islamic World Control of Mediterranean Sea trade

3. Significance of Crusades: Increased Power of Kings Military organizations are led by kings National taxation instituted to pay for Crusades and collected by king Nobility exhausts its financial resources fighting far from home

4. Significance of Crusades: Power of the Church Waxes , then Wanes  Europe unifies around the Church ’ s goal Increased status of Church – for a while New ideas from abroad threaten Church ’ s teachings Loss of Holy Lands, failure of later Crusades, diminish Church prestige

5. Significance of the Crusades: Interaction Reopening of trade with East: Spices, Silks New foods: Sugar, Cotton, Rice, Citrus fruits, Apples Knowledge of the Islamic world Arabic numerals, paper Reintroduction to works of Aristotle, other works of logic