The Crusades?

Question

What happened to feudalism because of the Crusades? And why was there an increase in trade?

Answer 1

Jeff makes several good points, but few related to your question.

Feudalism was dependent on a stable serf population and a set hierarchy. There were the Peasant Crusades, which drew valuable labor from the fields (thus putting the nobility in a bit of a tight spot). The standard crusades also took the middle and upper ranks of the nobility and actually eased tensions. Because of Primogenitary, sons after the first were put in poor economic positions (couldn't inherit land, didn't have much of a livelihood, etc). The Crusades offered a way for these individuals to seek out their own fortunes and land in the Holy Lands. The Crusading States established after the first Crusade appeared to be proof of this belief. As such, while on one hand the peasantry was slightly diminished (as noted before, the Black Plague effected the peasantry much more), it lessened the strain on the nobility. There was something for all those second and third sons to do!

As for the increase in trade, this was rather simple. The Crusaders went to the Holy Land and when they weren't killing or being killed they noticed all the wonderful things that the Holy Land had (oranges and spice alone were worth their weight in gold to a continent that even to this day has comparatively bland food). Then there was the resurgence of classical texts that had died out in the west (but the Muslims had preserved). Indeed, it has been claimed that the Crusades were partially responsible for the Renaissance.

Note, the Crusades also placed a good deal of wealth in the hands of the church, not from the wars but from people buying a Crusading blessing (without actually going on the Crusades).

So to summarize, the Crusades helped feudalism endure for longer by removing the population preasures that could have caused intense internal conflict. The Crusades created a demand for goods imported from the Middle East, thus sparking a great increase in trade (and trade also results in the spread of knowledge).

Answer 2

Crusades increase the trade because Crusaders travel from one nation to another, buying & selling stuffs but it's just a small factor IMO. The conquest of the Holy Lands spread the word of "luxuries" particularly spice.

About Feudalism, Crusades alone didn't end Feudalism. It's trade and prosperity that ended Feudalism.

Answer 3

Feudalism was slightly diminished as the returning Crusaders started questioning the infallibility of the nobles and of the Church.

Some of the nobles did not come back at all from the Crusades and left their estates in disaray. Some of the nobles came back from the Crusades disenchanted with the Church and their own countries.

Feudalism still existed and was practiced after the eight Holy Crusades but was somewhat diminished by the high casualty rate and loss of idealism which any prolonged war brings to veterans.

Feudalism did not come to an end until the late 1500s to mid 1600s.

Answer 4

Nothing happened to feudalism because of the crusades, other than (perhaps) the serfs had an easier time because their lords and masters were away. The main thing that led to the gradual breakdown of feudalism was the Black Death. I doubt if they had any influence on trade.

Answer 5

To understand the Crusades, you have to understand more about the preceeding centuries.

Muslim nations had been attempting to invade europe for centuries PRIOR to the Crusades.

The French after many violent battle and some epic victories had drivem some muslim colonies from French soil.

The Moores had been Driven from Spain.

The Turks had been stopped with their invasion of the Balkans.

Now, Christians were NOT beling allowed to enter the holy city of Jerusalem.

Result, Christians were feeling thier oats (due to many LARGE naval and ground victoris against invaders) and took offense. As a result they invaded the holy land on the premise of making it safe for Christianity.

Reference History. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lybia, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and many many other nations that are Muslim today were Christina Nations prior to the initial onslaught of Islamists.

Now, after the onset of the Crusades you had MANY other factors working to the advantage of western civilization. With the invaders being pushed back on their heels, lees effort was needed for pure defense. (intercine warfare continued but as trade increased the need for this diminished)

something else the Crusades MAY have influenced, but it would be hard to draw a line, is nationalism. At the end of the Crusades nationalism began to flourish in western society. Fuedal societies evoled into national societies. Soem of todays nations evolved quicker than others. The slower evolving states (like Germany and Austria) ended up with less strength to move forward in the colonial period as thery were still struggling to unify their nations. Thos nations that moved forward to national identities quicker (France, England and Spain) began to establish colonies to solidify access to foreign resources.

This differance in access to foreign resources then led to WW I.

Like I said, this is a complicated and intricate story. The Crusdaes could be said to have help Europeans start thinking of them selves as Europeans and Christians first rather than simple tribal and clan alliances. (Fuedalism needed smaller loyaties)

With various factions of the crusader forces working together against the islamists they naturally worked better with other groups that would speak the same languages. This would have formed natural bonds and could arguably aided in the birth of nationalism.

Also with so many lords sending troops to the middle east to fight they had lees troops to fight at home. Less conflict within Europe would then allow more trade and greater prosperity.

Hope this helps.