Download Crusades Review

Topic: Crusades and Trade
Name:
How did the Crusades Affect Exploration and Trade?
- by Joseph Cummins, Demand Media
What is a crusade?
On a November day in 1095, in Auvergne, France, Pope
Urban II gave one of the most important speeches in world
history as he presided over an assembly of important
clergymen and officials of the Catholic Church. In his fiery
speech, he described the encroachment of the Muslims in
Byzantine and in the holy places of Jerusalem. He urged his
listeners to begin a holy war against the forces of Islam, and
thus the First Crusade was born.
presided: be in charge of a meeting
That day in France, Pope Urban launched more than a
religious war, however. During the two centuries that the eight
Crusades would last, a radical transformation in world
exploration, cross-cultural exchange and trade occurred.
Because European armies unprecedented in size needed to
be transported long distances, shipbuilding became a thriving
industry. Crusaders returning from the Middle East brought
with them perfumes, spices, silk tapestries and gems, as well
as food items like rice, spices, sherbet, dates and coffee. This
created a demand that European traders -- especially those in
Spain, Portugal and Italy, countries with coastlines as long as
their sea-faring traditions -- were only too happy to fill.
launched: to start
These riches, however, were scarce, and this led European
explorers further afield in search of new trading opportunities
-- the voyages of Marco Polo, begun as the last Crusades
were drawing to a close, are a classic example of for-profit
trading journeys turning into ones of exploration. Some
historians claim that Christopher’s Columbus’ voyages to
America were an indirect result of the Crusades, since one of
Columbus' goals was to thwart "the sect of Mahomet," as he
wrote in his journal. Going even further, Carol Delaney, author
of “Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem," argues that
Columbus’ first voyage was the direct result of a desire to find
gold with which to finance a new Crusade to retake Jerusalem
afield: far away, not close by
encroachment: move onto someone
else’s land or rights
Why did Pope Urban II order the
Crusades?
urged: try to get someone to do
something, persuade
What were two unexpected results of
the Crusades?
radical: very different from normal
unprecedented:never done before
tapestries: textile or fabric with pictures
or designs
Why did shipbuilding become
important during the Crusades?
Why did trade increase during the
Crusades?
scarce: not a lot of; not easy to find
indirect:not a direct cause but related in
some way
Thwart: to stop or prevent
sect: a group with different beliefs from
the larger group to which they belong
quest: long search for something
disputed: argue about, disagree
How did the Crusades lead to
exploration?
from the Muslims. (However, this point of view is disputed by
historians and remains highly controversial.)
Another effect of the Crusades was to expose Europe to
Islamic science, mathematics, art and military science.
Europeans learned about chess, algebra, Arabic numbers
and irrigation from the Islamic world. Ironically, the Muslims
became better builders of fortified castles after the Crusader
invasions, and these innovations found their way back to
Europe. Muslim universities, established as early as the 7th
century, became models for European universities. And
Muslims themselves benefited from the trade in textiles from
Byzantium and northern Europe.
The Crusades were a military failure for Christianity, since
Christians did not ultimately succeed in their stated goal of
recovering the Holy Land from the Muslims. However, they
were in fact a political and cultural victory for Europe on a
grand scale. The Crusades opened up new trading markets,
new ideas and new global vistas to Europeans. Thomas F.
Madden, author of “The New Concise History of the
Crusades,” writes, “It is one of the remarkable events in
history that the Latin West … suddenly burst forth with
amazing new energy, neutralizing its enemies and
expanding across the globe.”
- article from http://classroom.synonym.com/did-crusades-affect-exploration-trade-8887.html
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Created by Melissa McGready
controversial: public disagreement over
something
irrigation: to supply water to
How did the Islamic culture impact
Europe?
ironically: the opposite of what normally
is expected happens
fortified: strengthen
innovation: changes or transformations
textiles: woven cloth or fabric
ultimately: in the end
Why were the Crusades considered a
failure?
concise: giving information clearly and
in a few words
neutralizing: make something
ineffective or harmless
If the Crusades were a failure, why
were the Crusades important in
European history?
What were they?
How did the Byzantines (Muslims) influence
culture in Europe?
Crusades
Direct impact on European culture.
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Created by Melissa McGready
Indirect and lasting impact on European culture.