Overwhelming Influence

The Crusades were made possible by the overwhelming influence that the church had over its followers. Those of the Church either followed higher officials or used the Crusades for their own manipulation. The influence also made many consider and even commit themselves to the crusade because they believed their soul’s salvation to be far more important than their mortal life. “The people were more concerned for the health of their souls than the honor of their earthly existence.”(13) One thing you don’t see is any of the clergy go against the pope’s decision, which exemplifies the church’s power at this time.

For most of the free world the Crusades was an event that affected everyone. The Crusades brought diseases to areas, began east/west relationships, spread religion, and changed the worlds definition of what a Holy War was. The 12th century renaissance was greatly impacted by Islamic civilization. Western Europeans brought back to Europe religious relics, paintings, illuminated manuscripts, exotic goods, and architectural ideas which all help develop the renaissance. The inhabitants of the Levant area above all were affected the most from the Crusades. These scars that the world still bears from the crusades and other such calamities shows just how history can be affected. Much of the violence and animosity that was displayed in the Middle East during the crusades is again, seen in our time. The Crusades made a wound in the Middle East that will never heal.

Alfred J. Andrea. "Encyclopedia of the Crusades". Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2003

Corliss K. Slack. "Historical Dictionary of the Crusades". Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, 2003