RESULTS/EFFECTS OF CRUSADES

1)Byzantine Empire
- the crusades postponed the Turkish invasion of the Byzantine Empire, but they certainly did not prevent it.
- the determination of the Westerners to conquer and colonize the lords of the Byzantium led only to its downfall and its subsequent coquest by the Turks, who finally took Constantinople itself.
- Byzantine Empire was weakened as the time went by.
- the plunder of Constantinople in1204 and the Venetian monopoly of its trade were a fatal blow.

2)Commerce/Economy
- the merchats & artisans of the Italian cities gained the most profit from the entire crusading venture.
- they used these privileges to introduce to the western world such oriental luxuries as silks, spices, and pearls who brought them tremenduous profits.
- the demand for such commodities was so great that it provoked men to seek out more new and direct routes to the East.
-the search was eventually to result in the discovery and exploration of America.
- the crusades also played a major role in the development of the moneyed aristocracy and encourage the growth of the capitalism in the Italian cities.
- the introduction of the new materials and foodstuffs brought about the improvement on their standard of living.

3) Feudalism- crusades were among the severa factors that contributed for the decline of feudalism in Western Europe.

- thousands of feudal barons were killed and many baronian families were made economically bankcrupt by the burdens of debts they accumulted in financing trips to and from the Holy Land.
- The noble families were forced to forfeit their estates in Europe for their creditors.
- The government became more centralized and national.

4) the Church and papacy
- During the early stages, the popes asssumed the leadership of werstern Europe in the great Holy against the infidel world, but they lost the leadership in the fourth crusade.
- the kingdom of jerusalem, the commercial interest of the people required friendship with thte muslims, an acceptanceof oriental customs and a toleration of the rival religion.

5) Culture
- They were cited as the major cause for the renewed interest in learning art, literature and architecture. In effect, it was once widely believed, the crusades were mainly responsible for the Rennaisance.