What were the effects of the increased trade between East and West, caused by the Crusades, on the...

What were the effects of the increased trade between East and West, caused by the Crusades, on the economy of Western

Europe? Ursula Cliff

http://images-mediawiki-sites.thefullwiki.org/01/1/8/5/93515574230911109.jpg

http://blog.sentrana.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/medieval-town-square1.jpg

How did the Crusades increase trade?

• Increased demand for ‘Oriental’ goods

• Increased number of Christian ports

• Increased trips across Mediterranean

Trade routes during and after the Crusadesfaculty.washington.edu/.../197/othellores.html

Increased standard of living

• ‘Luxury goods’• Growth of

middle class

‘...loaded with spices; gold and silver; cloaks of silk; arms and weapons of diverse forms; a large quantity of conserves and medicines; pepper, cinnamon, sugar, and wax; an immense sum of money, and an incalculable quantity of goods...’ (Account of the goods of a caravan travelling from Asia to Europe, and captured by the Crusaders in 1192)

Making mulled wine, with cinnamon, sugar, and various other eastern spiceshttp://www.ehow.com/how_4720740_blood-sugar-help-lose-weight.html

Growth of trading towns and cities

• Trading fairs• Cities and towns

along trading routes grew

Ruins of a medieval cityhttp://gossamerstrands.com/Hist100/100images/medieval_city_destroyed.jpg

Fair scene in "Le chevalier errant" by Thomas de Saluce, ca 1403 - 1404 http://www.culture.gouv.fr/fr/arcnat/saint-denis/en/3_5_foires.htm

Currency and banking• Barter economy money economy• Knights Templars• Unified trade across Europe

Medieval banking scene

Medieval coins found in Tripolihttp://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1153&pos=0&sold=1

Rise in power of Italian Maritime Republics

• Concessions gained allowed dominance• Consequent wealth led to dominance in

Europe

Flags of the maritime republicswww.apartmentinvenice.eu/en/info/events.html

Venetian trade shiphttp://library2.binghamton.edu/mt/international/archives/bu_campus_events/

Conclusion

Increased standard of living

New system of commerce and banking

Dominance of Italian maritime republics

Growth of trading towns and cities