WESTERN CULTURE

V.2. Western culture from 11th to 14th Century
V.2.1. The Crusades
a series of military campaigns by Western European Christians to recapture the Holy Land.


The Holy Land
Origins of the Crusades
Before 11th century:
Eastern and central Europe were under the control of the Magyars, nomadic people from Asia.
Northern Europe and Mediterranean cities were under the control of Viking raids.
The Islam forces conquered North Africa, the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean and Spain.
In 11th century:
The balance of power moved toward the West.
The Christians were able to unite the Europe.
Origins of the Crusades
In 1076,the Muslims captured Jerusalem – the most holy of holy places for Christians.
Jerusalem was also extremely important for the Muslims.
Therefore, the Christians fought to get Jerusalem back while the Muslims fought to keep Jerusalem.
View of Jerusalem
Origins of the Crusades
Europe’s population increased.
The trade developed.
=>Greater demand for goods and profits from elsewhere, especially the Mediterranean.
The Crusader States
The time line of the Crusades
The Crusader knight
The Crusader attack on Jerusalem
Consequences
The Crusades became a failure when judged by narrow military standards.
The Crusades were a great disappointment for the Church.
Christians did not recapture the Holy Land
Many innocent people died.
V.2. Western culture from 11th to 14th Century
V.2.2. The Growth of Towns and Commerce
Trade and Commerce
Italian cities prospered from the transport of Crusaders.
Create more trade-routes such as Europe – Middle East; Atlantic powers (Spain, Portugal) - Asia (India, China).
European trade dominance and colonization.
The center of commercial activity moved from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
B.The Growth of Towns
Artisans built workshops at the market places for showing their goods.
Merchants, then, constructed houses and lived near the market.
Towns were formed by developed market places, larger than a village, where many people lived and worked.