Art of the Crusades

The crusades not only introduced Islamic knowledge to the West, but also Islamic art. I found it very interesting that the crusaders would plunder the Muslims of the Levant and then they used these religious pieces of art for their own Christian practices. For example they would take Muslim silks and use them to decorate churches or wrap holy relics. They even went as far to use a Muslim made cloak for the German Emperor's coronation. This was also the beginning of the Gothic Period and large lavish Cathedral were sprouting up in all the major cities of Europe. I am always impressed by these pieces of both architectural and artistic genius. Having visited some examples of this architecture, it boggles the mind a how the laborers of that time could build this huge structures of stone, with no power tools or construction equipment.

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