THE 7 CONSEQUENCES OF THE MOST RELEVANT CRUSADES - HISTORY - 2025

The consequences of the crusades were very influential. Although they failed to capture Jerusalem, the crusades had a great impact throughout western Europe.

The crusades kept the whole of Europe in an uproar for two centuries and directly and indirectly cost billions of lives, as well as incalculable expenses in both treasure and suffering.

On the other hand, wars indirectly caused many positive elements, so that today they form an important factor in the history of the progress of civilization.

The consequences of the crusades influenced the role, wealth, and power of the Catholic Church. Additionally, they had great political effects; its influence was notorious in feudalism, in commerce and in social and intellectual development.

The crusades refer to many of the military operations carried out during the Middle Ages by the Catholic Church and Catholic political leaders, against non-Catholic powers or heretical movements.

However, the majority of the crusades were aimed at Muslim states in the Middle East, with the first crusade beginning in 1096 and the last occurring in 1270.

It is difficult to summarize the impact of a movement that lasted several centuries, spanned several continents, crossed social lines, and affected all levels of culture. However, there are central aspects that can be highlighted.

The 7 main consequences of the crusades

1- Territorial expansion

The crusades played an important role in European territorial expansion. The first crusade resulted in the formation of crusader states in the Levant, which were initially ruled and to a small extent populated by Europeans.

The crusades in northern and eastern Europe led to the expansion of kingdoms such as Denmark and Sweden, as well as the creation of new political units such as Prussia.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the crusades led to the conquest and colonization of many islands, which helped to secure Christian control of the Mediterranean marketing routes.

The crusades also played a role in the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, today Spain and Portugal. This was completed in 1492, when the Spanish monarchs conquered the last Muslim community in the city of Granada.

The crusades started the European thirst to discover and conquer new territories. Thanks to this influence, Europe was able to embark on the discovery of new territories, as happened in the case of America.

2- Increase in power and wealth of the Church

The crusades contributed to increasing the wealth of the Church and the power of the papacy. This move helped solidify the Pope's control over the Church and made financial innovations central to Church operations.

The Pope often collected taxes to pay for the crusades, taxes taken directly from the people and without any assistance from local political leaders. Many people also gave their property to the Church in exchange for papal blessings.

The pope's leading role in the crusades naturally increased his authority and influence, by placing the armies and resources of Christianity in his hands. He also accustomed people to seeing popes as guides and leaders.

Thousands of crusaders, returning home defeated in health and spirit, sought asylum in cloister retreats and enriched the establishments they entered with their goods.

In addition to this, the large number of ordinary gifts from the papacy was fattened by the extreme fervor of religious enthusiasm that characterized this period.

3- Greater knowledge for Europeans

Europeans learned many things from Muslims, including different ways to build and navigate boats and how to make and use magnetic compasses.

Europeans were also introduced to many different barter goods while participating in the crusades; this included silk, cotton, different species, and new forms of art and literature.

This contact also initiated an exchange of ideas: philosophical, scientific, mathematical, educational, and medicinal.

Hundreds of Arabic words were introduced into European languages, the old custom of shaving the beard returned, medicine improved, and public baths and latrines were introduced.

4- Military orders

Previously, there was great prejudice against the military, at least among the men of the Church. The crusades changed all this and created a new image of Christian service: the warrior monk.

The oldest military orders originated in Jerusalem during the First Crusade. A military order is a religious order in which the members take traditional vows (poverty, obedience, and chastity) but also commit to violence in the name of the Christian faith.

Some well-known examples include the Knights Templar, the Knights Hospitaller, and the Teutonic Knights.

The military orders represented a great theological and military development. They continued to play central roles in the formation of key political units that still exist today as nations.

5- Changes in religious observance

The Crusades brought changes in the nature of religious observance. Due to the widespread contact with so many holy sites, the importance of religious relics grew.

Knights, priests, and kings continually brought bits and pieces of saints and crosses with them, and increased their importance by placing them in important churches.

Local religious leaders did not care and rather encouraged locals to venerate these relics.

Devotional tendencies were also affected. For example, there was a dedication to Saint George since the Middle Ages, but the intensity of that devotion increased in Europe after 1098 thanks to the First Crusade.

6- End of feudalism

Financing the crusades was a tremendous effort that led to developments in banking, commerce, and taxes. These changes in trade and taxes helped hasten the end of feudalism.

Feudal society was sufficient for individualistic actions, but it was not suitable for mass campaigns that required so much financing and organization.

7- Change in the exchange of goods

Before the Crusades, the exchange of goods from the East had been controlled by the Jews; But with the amount of demand, the large number of Christian merchants pushed the Jews aside.

This was made possible through repressive laws that restricted their ability to conduct any trade.

Many of the massacres of Jews across Europe and the Holy Land by the Crusaders also helped clear the way for Christian merchants to move.

In the end, the Italian merchant cities ended up mapping and controlling the Mediterranean, effectively making it a Christian sea for European exchange.

References

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