The Power Hungry Mongols and the Bloodthirsty Church It’s no secret that continents do not become what they are out of nowhere. Something has to happen to make things what they are. In Europe, two prominent groups involved in shaping its history are the Crusades and the Mongols. The primary goal of the Crusades, or Holy Wars, was to reclaim the Holy Land. The Mongols goal was similar, they wanted to expand their empire. While both groups brought about change, the lasting impact has varied greatly. The Mongols brought destruction in unprecedented numbers, but the positive impacts are what can be seen today. The results of the Crusades are mixed because not only were they unable to reclaim Jerusalem, but many innocent people were killed. The question is simple: which group had the longest lasting impact on Europe? …show more content…
The Turks kept all Jewish and Christian pilgrims from entering the city. The Emperor of the Byzantine Empire did not take this lightly and ordered the Crusade. It wasn't easy, but the Crusaders were successful in capturing the Holy Land. They then slaughtered tens of thousands of its inhabitants. These crusades continued for about two hundred years, leaving many innocent lives lost to the sword of those wearing the cross. So were the Crusades a failure? The First Crusade was the only one successful in recapturing their Holy Land from the Muslims, and it was then quickly recaptured by the Egyptians. So, to answer that question, the Crusades failed miserably at completing its original goal of recapturing Jerusalem. However, it extended the reach of Christianity, increased the wealth of the Roman Catholic Church, and brought Europe together against a common enemy. The crusaders also played a part in shaping Europe into what it has become today by expanding European territory, increasing trade, weakening serfdom,