Time of Troubles

Image of Peter the Hermit Preaching the First Crusade, by James Archer

"Peter the Hermit Preaching the First Crusade," by James Archer / Wikimedia Commons.

Africa’s time of tragedy and decline started both in Europe and Africa itself. For more than a thousand years Africa has been bringing into being empire after empire. But the opening of Europe’s era of exploration, Africa’s own internal strife, and the slave trade turned what had been Africa’s Golden Age into a time of troubles. 

The Crusades may be called the beginning of European awakening. A religious fervor, not unrelated to politics, stirred Europeans out of their lethargy and their indifference to the larger world. 

The First Crusade, begun in 1095, was precipitated by the Seljuk Turks, whose persecution of Christians had placed even Constantinople in jeopardy. The Eastern heads of the Church appealed to Pope Urban II for help. At a  Church council in France the Pope pointed out that if Constantinople fell to the Turks, Western Europe would soon be overrun. He made an eloquent plea to the kings and princes gathered, and to all Western European Christendom, to rally to the aid of the Christians in the East and to drive the “infidels” from the Holy Land. 

This religious crisis gave Europe a semblance of unity; and although it can be said that the Crusades were military and religious failures, they did provide the opportunity to bring new information to Europe. 

The religious wars also had a profound effect on the political development of Europe. The Western monarchs were able to strengthen their authority and develop a strong central government while many members of their turbulent aristocracies were fighting in the Holy Land. 

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