Final answer:
The economic impact of the Crusades was significant, leading to increased trade and economic growth. Italian merchants played a major role in financing and facilitating the Crusades, and they continued to benefit from trade even after the Muslims recaptured the city of Acre. The borrowing of Arabic words in European languages also highlights the range of trade goods involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economic impact of the Crusades was significant. Italian merchants played a major role in financing and facilitating the Crusades by building fleets to transport crusaders to the Holy Land. These fleets were later used to open new markets in the crusaders' states, leading to increased trade and economic growth. Even after the Muslims recaptured the city of Acre, Italian merchants continued to keep these trade routes open, resulting in the exchange of goods between Europe and the Middle East. This is evident in the borrowing of Arabic words like sugar, cotton, rice, and muslin, which entered the European vocabulary and reflected the range of trade goods involved.
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