Question

Why was the Latin West uninterested in Crusading?

Answer 1

The Latin West was uninterested in Crusading due to the focus on building nation-states, the rise of powerful Islamic kingdoms, and the lack of settlers in the Crusader States.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Latin West was uninterested in Crusading for several reasons:

1. The expansion of Christian kingdoms in the Baltic and Iberian regions shifted their focus towards building nation-states and warring against dynastic rivals at home.
2. The rise of powerful Islamic kingdoms in the Middle East, like the Mamluks in Egypt and the Ottoman Turks in Anatolia, made crusades to control Jerusalem impractical.
3. The lack of settlers from Europe meant that the number of soldiers in Outremer (the Crusader States) was small, leading to the promotion of crusading orders and the construction of fortified castles to defend the relatively small number of soldiers.

Overall, the political goals of kings and monarchs, as well as changing geopolitical circumstances, contributed to the Latin West's disinterest in Crusading.