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Did the motives for the Crusades change over time?
In answering this question it is important to first define what constitutes a crusade in this discussion. Some historians argue that only crusades to the East (I.E. to Jerusalem etc.) where real crusades. This is called a traditionalist view. However, the view that is now becoming more widely accepted by modern historians is that the crusades include all the organised battles/wars by members of the catholic faith towards a certain group deemned to be enemies/threats to christendom, it must also be sanctioned/launched by the current pope. There must also be some sort of crusader beneifit such as the remission of sins or a plenary indulgence. The latter definition mentioned above means that as well as the crusades to the East, there are also crusades against pagans in the balkans, crusades against the German emperor Frederick II, and the Albigensian crusades in Southern France against the Cathar heretcs. As well as many other small crusades. In the begining of the crusading movement, the crusades were all to the East. The main motives for these crusades was the protection of Christian Holy sites such as the sepulcher. Another important motive was the protection of both christians living in the area and also pilgrims who were increasinly facing attack from Muslim forces. During the course of the crusades, the direction of some crusades changed from the east to areas within Europe. This also caused the motives to change. There were no holy sites to protect, and no pilgrims or christians under immediate threat. Instead these crusades could be described as political crusades. This is particularly true of the crusade against Frederick II. Frederick and the pope of the time fell out for many reasons and the crusade was launched by the pope as a way of dealing with his political problems caused by Frederick in areas such a lombardy. Crusades against the pagans and the cathars in southern France, also so not fit in with the motive that apply to crusading to the east. Instead, this was a way of attacking potential threat to Christianity and/or the popes political power. The Pope that was most willinging to sanction these political crusades was Innocent III who was particularly ruthless.
How did feudalism emerge?
Feudalism is a medieval governmental and social system with a weak central government and a hierarchy of control with the king at the top and a number of levels of nobility below him, with each below the king reporting to him or some intermediary. This system made it possible to react to invasion, rebellion, or other disturbance quickly, without the need for rapid response by the central government. It came about because the central governments were weak and unable to fulfill this need.
