How Did The Crusaders Influence On American Culture

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Before the crusades, trade was exclusively local, the feudal system held down the economy and learning was confined to monasteries. Life in a feudal society was restricted to only a small circle of people. The manor was a stable environment in which peasants were promised safety in return for their service to the lord of the manor. As this system was local and limited, it offered stability and predictability. However, the Crusades changed the social, economic and intellectual restrictions in Europe. In 1095 CE the Byzantine Empire reached out for help and the Pope called the Crusades to take back the holy land from Islam. The adventures that came with the Crusades exposed Europeans to other cultures' ways of living which ignited a vast improvement …show more content…
Before the Crusades, travel was local, so Europeans never saw foreign lifestyles or merchandise. But during this period, Europeans gained a wider worldview through their journeys. Through that, they caught a glimpse of what life was like for different people around the world. This immediately had a drastic impact on their economy. The Crusaders couldn’t imagine living without all the new things they discovered, so they brought them home to Europe. These foreign luxuries included Chinese silks, Byzantine gold jewelry, and Asian spices. (Ellis 54) People in Europe loved these items and the demand for more foreign commodities grew rapidly. To accommodate the growing desire for non-local goods, trade routes expanded and developed. As a result of the trading, wealth was abundant and that spurred the beginning of an economic twirl. The growth of trade made the use of money necessary, and a new financial system began. A common problem that buyers have is lack of money when they want to buy things. This was solved with credit or delayed payment. (Ellis 556) Allowing merchants to sell their items even if the buyer didn’t have access to money at the time and would still make a