The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-05-25
CIVILIZATION.
No. 4.

fects of the crusades upon European civil
ization are readily perceived when We per-
sue the writings of historians at the close
of the crusades You perceive that the
human mind has become modernized cul-
tivated and enlarged. The first chron-
clers who represented the sentiment of
their people were incapable of forming All
impartial Judgment. All they knew of
the Mohammedans was to detest them.
Later historians could delineate Moham-
medan character as faithfully as Tactus
described the manners of the enemies of
his people.
A knowledge of the world and of peo-
pie enlarges the mind. The common in
terest in the crusades established com
munication among the European nations.
They learned from each other as we'll as
from the Musselman and other Asiatic
nations. Remusat says, 1.-TWO Venetian
merchants CHANGED to accompany a Mon
gol ambassador to China. After many
years they visited their home, to return
again to China accompanied by Marco
Polo who became celebrated by writing
the book which led Columbus to discover
America. We thus see what may be the
outcome of seeming small events. All
travellers carried with them the arts of
their own country and brought back with
them know ledge no less valuable. These
10
commerce. r are relies Of ancient civiliz-
alton We're discovered and scattered over
the earth. Ancient civilization began to
be appreciated, The arts, religions and
languages Of the world began to be stu
died. The Crusaders by visiting Rome on
their journey learned much Of the relig
ion OF tleir own country as we'll as of
foreign lands. Religious sentiments were
not changed, hat the intellect acquired
energy and freedom. The crusades had a
tendency t. break mp the system of small
Gels. Feudal. prop1ietors sold then tiefs
To raise money 10 carry on their favorite
enterprise. Many mobiles lost their in1lu-
euce y constq uence of a long absence.
omal, fIomiet}rs joined some powerful
Chief with whom they continued to live
after returning home.
The crusades also gave rise to com
melce on q ,aree scale. The movement
was non locaIiz7tion to Capitalization.
The rusades were the result of religious
impulses While religion lost nothing by
che movement it occupied a position Of
less relative Importance because intellect
ual zeal received great stimulus aud
anne to occupy its true position. Kings
began to devise schemes of political ag-
grtudlsement The people began to see
that industry was surer road to success
than ad7euIule. The same fact holds
lIue to-day. Among the fruits of the
crusade> may be mentioned depth and
breath OF knowledge, an enlarged social
and commercial sphere, individual lib
erty, national unity, Capitalization of So
ciety and Development of monarchy.
The use OF lie compass, printing press
and gun powder We're made known 10 the
world al this time. Peter the Hermit be-
gan to preach in 1904 by direction Of the
Pope. Within two years an army of 600,
200 men marched from Europe, and in
1929 Jerusalem is taken and a Christian
kingdom established The second cru
SADIE in 1l4- proved a failure, and before
the third crusade in 1850 Jerusalem had
been taken and the Christian forces re-
treated to Tyre. Though France and
England participated i'll the third crusade,
and Germany alone furnished 100. 600
men, they We're unable to regain Jerdsa-
lem.
The Kings could not be induced to par
1icipa1e in the fourth crusade in 1902.
This expedition captured Constautinope
and established an empire which lasted
half a century, but never reached the
Holy Land
The Christians in the east We're being
despoiled, but they defended themselves
bravely. The fifth crusade in 1217, the
sixth in 122S. the seventh in 1913, and the
eighth in 1910. failed to produce the de-
sired result and the last pace of import
ance was wrested from the Christian
forces in 1901. We have seen the num-
erous elements of society crystalline, as it
were, into two great forces, government
and people. Monarchial institutions were
greatly facilitated by the crusades. Mon :
archy seems to be the only form of gov
eminent adapted to a rude state of civil
ization. Monarchy adopts itself TO all
conditions of society, civilized and bar
barous, peaceful and warlike. Force
sometimes establishes Institutions and
sustains them for a time, but when an in
stitution survives 50 many vicisstudes as
monarchy has, We may conclude that it is
adapted to the circumstances in that age
of the world.
We now find monarchy like kind pa
rental authority relaxing somewhat its
former powel. Monarchy or government
in any form IS now little more than an agent
for the transaction of public business.
Whenever there is d conflict of individual
wills and the forces of selfshness are