Question

Write about crusades and its impact.

Answer 1

1. The Pope and the Church called upon all the Christian peoples of Europe to march to the rescue of the “holy city” (Jerusalem).
2. The Crusaders had to fight against the Seljuq Turks who controlled those parts.
3. The struggle between Christianity and Islam beginning in 1095 continued for nearly 200 years and is called the Crusades.
4. The Crusades did not achieve the desired end.
5. Jerusalem continued to remain in Ottoman hands for another 700 years.

• Impact of Crusades:

1. Crusades ended the feudal relations. Many of the nobles who went to East to take part in the Crusades either stayed too long a period or did not return.
2. The serfs took advantage of their absence to break away from their bondage to the soil. Increasing demand for products of the East led to expansion of trade.
3. Venice, Genoa and Pisa emerged as important commercial centres in the Mediterranean region.
4. The elimination of powerful nobles had its influence in strengthening the monarchy in France and England.
5. One notable outcome of Crusades was the loss of prestige suffered by Pope and Papacy.