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Crusades Dbq Essay

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After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe entered a period of chaos and disarray known as the Dark Ages. For the duration of the Dark Ages, peasants were desperate for protection while rich landowners were desperate for workers. Thus, a system known as feudalism, in which lords protected peasants in exchange for labor, developed. Under the feudal lifestyle, trade slowed to almost a complete stop due to self sufficiency on manors. Education and almost all greco-roman culture disappeared. When Pope Urban II was urgently called to help the Byzantine Emperor, he stepped up in order to conquer the Holy Land of Jerusalem from Muslims. However, while the crusades ultimately failed and lead to religious intolerance, they ended the Dark Ages …show more content…

The Crusades required soldiers to travel across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Jerusalem. Hence, Italian merchants built fleets to carry to Crusaders to the Holy Land. According to the Description of the Economic Impact of the Crusades, after the crusades, Italian merchants “used those fleets to open new markets” and “kept these trade routes open” (Document 2). When the Crusaders came back from the Holy Land, new items such as sugar, cotton, and rice entered Europe for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. Once Europeans were exposed to luxuries, they wanted more and more. Trade increased all throughout Europe, and the West entered a period of economic expansion. However, not only did Europe experience perks from the crusades, but so did the Muslims. The passage Description of some of the Effects of the Crusades describes how Muslim rulers “encouraged trade with European businessmen” (Document 5). Because Europe was in desperate need of the Islamic Empire’s sugar, cotton, and rice, Islam markets experienced new wealth and riches. Thus, both Europe and the Muslim Empire benefited from an increase in …show more content…

Before the crusades, Europeans were self sufficient, living off the their Lord’s Manor. Peasants and serfs traded using items, and there was no need for money. However, nobles needed money in order to pay for travel to the Holy Land. Thus, they allowed the serfs to pay rent in money as well as goods. In order to earn money, peasants sold their items in town, which in turn lead to growth of towns and cities. With an increase in urbanization, serfs saw an opportunity to start a better life away from manoralism. Hence, many serfs ran towards rapidly growing cities. Trade finally flourished throughout Europe, and as stated in More on the Effects of the Crusades, “Nobles and merchants enjoyed the new luxuries and wanted more of them” (Document 8). However, as trade rapidly increased, it not only brought goods from the Islamic Empire, but it also ideas. As new ideas reached Europe, people shifted interest towards education, and life in towns and cities became more popular. Additionally, the Description of the Motivation Behind the Crusaders Desire to Fight in the Holy War illustrates that many Europeans went to the Holy Land in order to “[look] for adventure, for estates, or for commercial opportunities” (Document 3). Although the crusades’ primary goal was to conquer the Holy Land, many Europeans were attracted to the crusades because new experience and opportunity. Serfs and low class citizens

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