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