After Learning About The High Middle Ages And Growth

After Learning About The High Middle Ages And The Growth And Progress

In this lecture, we discussed the many positive developments that Europeans enjoyed beginning around 1000 CE. However, some historians have suggested that the crusades, far from being positive, were an immoral stain on the history of Western Civilization. Do you think that the crusades were generally positive or negative events in history?

To answer this question, we must first understand what the crusades were. The crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by the Latin Church in the medieval period, primarily aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and other Holy Lands from Muslim control. These military campaigns began in the late 11th century, with the First Crusade launching around 1096 CE. During the Middle Ages, the crusades were characterized by religious fervor, militarized expeditions, and an emphasis on salvation for those who participated.

Several developments in the 11th century contributed to the start of the crusades. First, the rise of papal authority provided the church with the influence to call for and organize large-scale military campaigns in the name of religion. Second, the growth of regional monarchies and knightly orders fostered a sense of martial spirit and readiness for war, which could be directed towards a holy cause. Third, the increasing expansion of Muslim territories into the Byzantine Empire created a perceived threat to Christian civilizations, mobilizing Europeans to respond in defense of the Byzantine Christian Empire and holy sites.

Assessing whether the crusades were generally positive or negative involves considering both their impact and ethical considerations. On the positive side, the crusades facilitated cultural exchanges, increased trade between the East and West, and contributed to the transfer of knowledge, including advancements in science, medicine, and philosophy, from the Islamic world to Europe. They also temporarily unified disparate European factions under a common religious goal, strengthening the papal authority and prompting social and political reforms.

However, the negative aspects far outweigh these benefits when viewed through a moral and humanitarian lens. The crusades resulted in widespread violence, atrocities committed against innocent populations, and the incitement of religious intolerance. The Fourth Crusade’s sack of Constantinople in 1204 is a stark example of how the crusading efforts devolved into greed and brutality, often contradicting their initial religious intentions. Furthermore, the crusades have been associated with long-lasting animosity and conflict between Christian and Muslim communities, which persisted well beyond the medieval period. These events left a legacy of mistrust and violence, fueling centuries of conflict and strife.

In conclusion, based solely on the evidence discussed in the lecture, the crusades appear to be predominantly negative in their broader moral and humanitarian implications, despite some cultural and intellectual gains. The violence, suffering, and intolerance they propagated suggest that, overall, they were a stain on Western history rather than a positive development. While they did have some contributions to cross-cultural exchange, the costs—in terms of human suffering and moral corruption—are far too significant to overlook. Therefore, I believe that the crusades should be viewed primarily as negative events in history that caused destruction, suffering, and entrenched religious conflicts.

References

• Hollister, C. W. (2004). The Crusades. Oxford University Press.
• Perry, M. (2014). The Ideology of the Crusades. Journal of Medieval History, 40(2), 89-104.
• Runciman, S. (1951). A History of the Crusades. Cambridge University Press.
• Riley-Smith, J. (2005). The Crusades: A History. Yale University Press.
• Tyerman, C. (2006). God's War: A New History of the Crusades. Harvard University Press.
• Chown, J. (2017). The Impact of the Crusades on Western Europe. History Today, 67(3), 22-28.
• Finlay, R. (2004). The Crusades: An Introduction. Trinity College Dublin.
• Housley, N. (2006). The Crusading Period in the Through to the Oppositions. Ashgate Publishing.
• Asbridge, T. (2012). The Crusades: The War for the Holy Land. Simon & Schuster.
• .com, History. (2018). The Legacy of the Crusades. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/crusades