Question

In what way did the crusades help weaken feudalism?

Answer 1

The Crusades weakened feudalism by not imposing serfdom on the native populations, the decline in the power of the popes, and the combination of depopulation, shifting military practices, and centralization of monarchical power.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Crusades helped weaken feudalism in several ways:

1. The Crusaders organized their government in feudal terms, but they did not impose serfdom on the native populations. Instead, they paid taxes in cash or goods, leaving the existing agricultural production unchanged.
2. The decline in the power of the popes and the revival of royal power in the fourteenth century led to a decline in the popularity of the crusading ideal. The Crusades were launched by popular popes, but over time, they came to be perceived as more concerned about their own power and less like the hard-working clerics.
3. The combination of depopulation, shifting military practices, and centralization of monarchical power led to the demise of feudalism. The growth of professional armies and the use of new weapons and tactics rendered the traditional feudal military role obsolete, thereby weakning the feudal system.