DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0174
158
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
legends which survive throughout Europe, and of which
the “ Crusader” is always the hero, have a fascination,
even now, which almost equals that of the Iliad. But
the impartial historian cannot but question, if the cause
of Christianity and of morality was benefited by the
crimes, the avarice, the faithlessness, and the savage
cruelties which stained the career of these champions of
the Cross, and which rendered ineffectual all their efforts
to establish a Christian supremacy, in a land and climate
where the conqueror acquired and exceeded the vices of
the conquered.
During the period of the Crusades, all Syria and
Palestine were wrested from the Turks, and the banner
of the Cross was displayed on Mount Zion. Constanti-
nople, the eastern capital of Christianity, was seized and
barbarously pillaged by the Crusaders, and the Earl of
Flanders and his descendants kept possession, for half a
century, of the Imperial throne.
Meantime, the sight of new countries, and contact
with new peoples (many of whom were more polished
than themselves) brought an unforeseen change on the
social condition of Europe. In their progress towards
the Holy Land, the Crusaders traversed countries
far in advance of their own. Their first place of
meeting was generally in Italy, inywhich several thriving
cities, as Venice, Genoa, Pisa, and others, had begun to
apply themselves energetically to commerce and the
industrial arts. At some one or other of the many
Italian maritime ports they embarked, and landed in
Dalmatia, whence they pursued their route to Constanti-
nople. The latter city, as we must remember, though
often severely injured by conflagrations, had never been
subjected to the destructive rage of barbarians ; and
therefore preserved, unimpaired by the violence of man,
its queenly beauty, gorgeous treasures, luxury, elegance,
and all the impressive distinctions of manners and of
dress. Manufactures of curious and costly textures were
carried on in its centre ; brocaded silks ; webs of trans-
parent texture, enriched with gems and exquisite needle-
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
legends which survive throughout Europe, and of which
the “ Crusader” is always the hero, have a fascination,
even now, which almost equals that of the Iliad. But
the impartial historian cannot but question, if the cause
of Christianity and of morality was benefited by the
crimes, the avarice, the faithlessness, and the savage
cruelties which stained the career of these champions of
the Cross, and which rendered ineffectual all their efforts
to establish a Christian supremacy, in a land and climate
where the conqueror acquired and exceeded the vices of
the conquered.
During the period of the Crusades, all Syria and
Palestine were wrested from the Turks, and the banner
of the Cross was displayed on Mount Zion. Constanti-
nople, the eastern capital of Christianity, was seized and
barbarously pillaged by the Crusaders, and the Earl of
Flanders and his descendants kept possession, for half a
century, of the Imperial throne.
Meantime, the sight of new countries, and contact
with new peoples (many of whom were more polished
than themselves) brought an unforeseen change on the
social condition of Europe. In their progress towards
the Holy Land, the Crusaders traversed countries
far in advance of their own. Their first place of
meeting was generally in Italy, inywhich several thriving
cities, as Venice, Genoa, Pisa, and others, had begun to
apply themselves energetically to commerce and the
industrial arts. At some one or other of the many
Italian maritime ports they embarked, and landed in
Dalmatia, whence they pursued their route to Constanti-
nople. The latter city, as we must remember, though
often severely injured by conflagrations, had never been
subjected to the destructive rage of barbarians ; and
therefore preserved, unimpaired by the violence of man,
its queenly beauty, gorgeous treasures, luxury, elegance,
and all the impressive distinctions of manners and of
dress. Manufactures of curious and costly textures were
carried on in its centre ; brocaded silks ; webs of trans-
parent texture, enriched with gems and exquisite needle-