2. OVERVIEW
The Crusades provided an opportunity for
the Western Europeans to experience live
outside of their own narrow sphere.
Most Muslims regarded the Westerners as
uncouth and uncultured.
Crusaders definitely gained more from the
Crusades than the Muslims did, due in
large part to the fact that the Muslims
already had a strong, efficient, structured
economic and social system in place while
the Westerners were only just discovering
civilization.
3. POLITICAL IMPACT: CRUSADERS
The Crusades helped to break down
feudal aristocracy by giving a certain
import to the kings and the people.
Many wealthy landowners who went
on the Crusades were never seen
again, and often their estates and
fortunes went to the Crown.
This provided revenue for the central
government.
4. POLITICAL IMPACT: MUSLIMS
The Muslims did not view the Crusaders as
particularly threatening, so much so that even
as the Crusaders marched toward Jerusalem
the Muslim princes continued to quarrel
amongst themselves.
Eventually, in response to growing Western
aggressions, one man – Salah-ud-Din (Saladin)
– united the empire.
Under Saladin’s leadership, the Muslims quickly
and easily drove the invaders out of Jerusalem.
Saladin’s empire collapsed shortly after his
death in 1193, returning Arabia to its previous
state of disarray.
5. SOCIAL IMPACT: CRUSADERS
Crusaders returned from the Holy land bearing radical new
Muslim ideas and concepts.
Westerners mastered Arabic numbers and the decimal system.
They benefited from the advances made by Arab and Persian
thinkers in science and mathematics.
Muslim influences affected both the popular and elite cultures of
Western Europe.
These included chess, chivalric ideals, troubadour ballads, dates, coffee,
and yogurt.
The reign of Saladin led to a brief period of truce between the
two groups in which European Christians were allowed to make
pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
6. SOCIAL IMPACT: MUSLIMS
The Muslims were briefly shaken by Western intrusion into the
Holy Land.
However, the Crusaders had very little real impact on Muslim
society.
Many Muslims viewed Westerners with scorn and disdain.
7. ECONOMIC IMPACT: CRUSADERS
New trading connections were
established between Western Europe
and Arabia.
Westerners borrowed many ideas from
the Muslims, such as the famous
damascene swords and techniques for
building fortifications.
European demand for Arabian and
Persian textiles was huge.
8. ECONOMIC IMPACT: MUSLIMS
The Muslims did not find much use in the Western Crusaders.
They did import some manufactured goods – such as glass and
textiles – and raw materials from Western Europe.
Muslim economy experienced a brief flash of prosperity during the
reign of Saladin and while the country combatted the Crusaders.
9. WORKS CITED
"Effects of the Crusades." middle-ages.org n. pag. Web. 28 Oct
2011.
<http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/effects-of-crusades.htm>.
Stearns, Peter N. "The Impact of the Christian Crusades." World
Civilizations: The Global Experience. 5. Pearson Education,
Inc., 2007.
Print.
Stearns, Peter N. "The West's Expansionist Impulse." World
Civilizations:
The Global Experience. 5. Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.
Print.
