having captured
Jerusalem, a third crusade was organized. This was led by Richard the
Lion-Hearted of England, Frederick Barbarossa of Germany, and Philip
Augustus of France. Barbarossa went overland, but Richard and Philip,
profiting by past experiences, made the journey by water, thus
accomplishing it with greater ease and fewer losses. The rivalries
between the different nationalities engaged prevented successful
warfare; but a truce was made with the humane Saladin,[43] whereby he
guaranteed protection to the Christians, and thus the crusade came to an
end. This crusade lasted from 1189 to 1192.
Other crusades followed from time to time for several centuries, with
but little advantage gained over the conditions granted by Saladin.
=Results of the Crusades.=--This, in brief, is a historical account of
the crusades.[44] It remains for us to note their educational value.
1. They drew various nations together by one common purpose.
2. They increased the knowledge of the manners, customs, culture,
products, and civilization of the East.
3. They stirred up commerce, especially that of the Mediterranean,
making Venice and Genoa great commercial centers.
4. They broke up the power of feudalism. Lord and vassal together
entered upon enterprises of danger and suffering, which were great
levelers of class distinction. In the enthusiasm of the holy cause, many
feudal lords disposed of all their worldly possessions, and became as
poor as their vassals. This broke up the feudal estates.
5. They widened the horizon of thought, made Europeans more liberal, and
prepared the way for an intellectual and religious revival.
6. They emancipated philosophy from theology. As a result of movements
inaugurated by the crusades, the university of Paris established the
faculty of philosophy separate from that of theology.
7. G. W. Cox says, "By rolling back the tide of Mohammedan conquest from
Constantinople for upward of four centuries they probably saved Europe
from horrors the recital of which might even now make one's ears
tingle."
FOOTNOTES:
[43] See Lessing's "Nathan der Weise."
[44] It would be impossible to give a full historical account of the
crusades in a work of this kind. The reader is referred to any standard
work on that subject.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE RISE OF THE UNIVERSITIES
=Literature.=--_Laurie_, Rise of the Universities; _Hallam_, Middle
Ages; _Guizot_, History of Civilization; _Paulsen_, T
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