Consequences of the Crusades, positive and negative

There are various, sometimes directly opposite opinions about the consequences of the Crusades. The positive and negative results of these campaigns have become the subject of analysis by historians, philosophers, writers and religious figures.

Scientific discussion

European thinkers began to be actively interested in the era of the crusades in the XVIII century. Their estimates of this historical period were quite different. Some scholars, for example Choiseul Daikur, saw the crusades as exceptionally positive. They noted such results as the revival of the interest of Europeans in science, the emergence of trade ties between East and West, the interpenetration of cultures.

There were also those who negatively assessed the crusades themselves, and their consequences. This view was held by the philosophers Rousseau and Walter. They considered the crusades to be meaningless bloodshed and argued that the revival of science and culture in Europe was due to other causes. Representatives of this camp also noted that the invasion of Christians caused a resentment of the Islamic world and caused religious intolerance that lasted for many centuries.

This scientific discussion continues in our time. Nevertheless, although estimates may diverge, a consensus has been reached on historical facts.

The rise of navigation and trade

In Palestine and Byzantium, the Crusaders discovered a variety of goods previously unknown to the inhabitants of Western Europe. Among them, food products, such as apricots, lemons, sugar, rice; Fabrics - silk, velvet, chintz; Luxury goods - jewelry, carpets, glassware, upholstered furniture. The Europeans appreciated oriental goods and did not intend to abandon them even after they had to leave the Middle East.

There is no doubt that the consequences of the Crusades for the Mediterranean trade were the most favorable. The first opened prospects were estimated by the Italian merchants. Genoa and Venice, who became rich during the Crusades and especially after the fall of Byzantium, prospered for several centuries.

The emergence of credit and financial institutions

Extremely interesting are the consequences of the crusades for European economic institutions. The need to safely move money over long distances led to the emergence of debt receipts, which could be taken with them on the road instead of gold. Issuance and cashing of these checks was engaged in the Knights Templar Order. It was the first organization in Europe to take on intermediary functions in financial transactions.

The Templars, with the permission of the Catholic Church, were also engaged in issuing loans. If earlier usury was pursued and therefore it was a rather risky business, now the situation has changed. The Templars concentrated huge capital in their hands, which allowed them to lend even to the monarchs of Europe. Subsequently, the unwillingness of the French king to repay the debt caused the liquidation of the Order. But after the defeat of the Templars, the financial instruments they invented were borrowed by Italian bankers.

Consequences of the Crusades for the Church

For the Vatican, the results of the campaigns organized by him turned out to be quite contradictory. At the initial stage the Pope managed to achieve consolidation of the entire Christian world. The income of the Catholic Church at this time also increased significantly. The political role of the Pope also increased.

But it is these changes, in the opinion of many historians, that have caused the decline of the Catholic Church. Representatives of the clergy surrounded themselves with luxury goods and increasingly interfered in political processes. This undermined the authority of the church. Eventually, protest moods led to the reformation.

The subject of theological disputes were the Crusades themselves. The causes and consequences of these campaigns were estimated differently by religious thinkers. Questions about the permissibility of trade with pagans, borrowing from them cultural and scientific knowledge caused heated discussions in the church environment.

Military innovations

Crusades led to the improvement of combat tactics and certain weapons. There has been significant progress in the construction of fortresses and other fortifications. In the Middle East, Europeans first met the crossbow. An important result was also the realization of the importance of supplying armies that were going on a long voyage. Although militarily the consequences of the Crusades were a failure for Christians, the military art of Europe has progressed considerably.

Levantine

Not all participants of the Crusades returned to their homeland after their completion. Some of the settlers from Europe remained in Lebanon, Palestine and Turkey after the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Mostly they were descendants of crusaders and merchants from France and Italy. They retained the Catholic faith and began to be called Levantine. In the Ottoman Empire, they received some privileges and were mainly engaged in trade, shipbuilding and crafts.

The current position of the Catholic Church

Today the Vatican is rather cautious about the consequences of the Crusades. The positive and negative aspects of the events then occurred are no longer the subject of public religious discussion. Instead, the church prefers to talk about moral responsibility for its past actions.

In 2004, when Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was visiting the Vatican, Pope John Paul II apologized for seizing the Byzantine capital by the Crusaders. He condemned the use of weapons against the brethren by faith, noting the tragic consequences for the church of the crusades. Briefly, but wisely commented on the words of the Pontiff Constantinople Patriarch. "The spirit of reconciliation is stronger than hatred," Bartholomew said.