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Click the red cross to the right to hear The Impact of the Crusades   Click the red cross to the left to see the Crusades Time Line      The primary reason for the Crusades was liberation of the Holy Land from the Seljuk Turks. Since these holy wars did not achieve their primary purpose, they were viewed as ending in failure. Yet the Crusades had lasting effects on Western Europe in several ways.      First, the crusades help end feudalism, for at the time of the Crusades the lord of the castle ruled his lands and peasants. Second, contact with the more advanced Muslim and Byzantine cultures helped bring classical Greek and Roman literature back to the West. This knowledge rekindled a new interest in the arts and literature that lead to the Italian Renaissance in the late 1400s. Third, the developments of trade between European cities like Venice and Genoa with Egypt, Asia and cities in the Holy Land.  Many of the crusaders brought back goods such as spices, silk, and other richly woven fabrics to their home countries. Third, the Arabs passed on their knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and geography. Finally, new and improved technology allowed Europeans to build better ships and make more accurate maps. They began to use magnetic compasses to tell different directions and as a result, Europeans began exploring other parts of the world such as Africa, Asia and the lands that would be called America.        Although many viewed the Crusades as failure, they did open European’s eyes to a broader world beyond their boarders and as a result, the Europeans launched the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration.       Additional learning resource: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nigel.nicholson/hn/CrusadeFAQs/f-change.html    BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE CURRENT PAGE     Textbooks: World History - Medieval and Early Modern Times. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2006. (150 – 199) Across the Centuries. Boston: Houghton Miifflin Company, 1997. (108 – 153)     Internet Websites:  “Crusades Impact Europe,” All Empires Online Communities 1November 2006 <http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=crusades_impact_europe> “The Crusade and their History,” The Flow of History <http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/west/10/FC67>   Home | Why the Crusades Began | Peasants' or People's Crusade | First Crusade | Second Crusade | Third Crusade| Fourth Crusade | Childrens' Crusade |  Impact of the Crusades | Definitions | Interactives | Email