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| Coins of the
Crusades 12th and 13th century European and Islamic silver coins |
The origin of the Crusades is rooted in the political upheaval that resulted from the expansion of the Seljuk Turks in the Middle East in the mid-11th century. Western Christians viewed the conquest of Syria and Palestine by these aggressive Muslims with fright and alarm. Turkish invaders also penetrated deep into the Christian Byzantine Empire and subjected the Greeks, Syrian, and Armenian Christians to their rule. The most legendary knight of the Crusades was England's King Richard the Lion-heart. Some went on Crusades out of greed, some out of religious fervor, and almost all believed that their participation would virtually assure them of personal salvation.
After the Crusades, Europe was changed forever. The Crusades
coincided with a dramatic growth of European population and
commercial activity. They provided an opportunity of expansion
for the growing population.. But mainly , they offered rich
commercial opportunities in spices and silks to the merchants of
the growing cities of the West, particularly Genoa, Pisa, and
Venice.
Christian Silver Coin - These thin silver coins are a vivid reminder of the turbulent times when Christian Europe waged their campaign against the Islamic "Infidels".
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Islamic Silver Coin; - These coins represent the monetary system that the Crusaders encountered when they arrived in Jerusalem. They were minted by Islamic rulers of the Holy Land from 1187 to 1260 AD
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