Title: Military and Political Effects of the Crusades
Headings: The Military and Political Effects of the Crusades
The Military and Political Effects of the Crusades
Military, Political, Religious, and Social Consequences
Social and Religious Outcome of the Crusades
Trade and Ideology
Economic Outcome of the Crusades

Content: Even El Cid, a Spanish hero of the Reconquista, just as often fought for Muslim leaders as he did against them. Aside from the reconquest of the Iberian peninsula and the recapture of some islands in the Mediterranean, there are only two things we can point to which might qualify as military or political successes of the Crusades. First, the capture of Constantinople by Muslims was probably delayed. Without the intervention of Western Europe, it's likely that Constantinople would have fallen much sooner than 1453 and a divided Europe would have been greatly threatened. Pushing back Islam may have helped preserve a Christian Europe. Second, although the Crusaders were ultimately defeated and pushed back into Europe, Islam was weakened in the process. This not only helped delay the capture of Constantinople but also helped make Islam an easier target for the Mongols riding in from the East. The Mongols eventually converted to Islam, but before that happened they shattered the Muslim world, and that too helped protect Europe in the long run. Social and Religious Outcome of the Crusades
Socially speaking the Crusades had an impact upon the Christian stance on military service. Before there was a strong prejudice against the military, at least among churchmen, on the assumption that Jesus' message precluded warfare.