middle ages european expansion

In the High Middle Ages Europe began to interact with increasing regularity with the other regions of the eastern hemisphere. Its days of relative isolation were over. Europe was greatly influenced by economic expansion during the high middle ages due to the growth of the agricultural economy and increased trade. Long distance trading was also an essential element causing economic growth.

The economic expansion that suddenly faced Europe was partially due to the agricultural growth. Due to population pressure, serfs and monks began to clear forests and swamps. The lords encouraged these efforts and taxed higher. Because new arable land was available, agricultural techniques improved. Putting together the idea of crop rotation and cultivation of beans to enrich the land, the fields could be used faster and more efficiently producing a surplus of crops. Books on agricultural methods also helped people cultivate their land. Due to the trading that was going on, new domestic animals were brought in, new crops were brought, and new agricultural ideas were traded. Before 1000 CE, the average European diet consisted mostly of grains, however after trade opened up, new foods were introduced leading to over a doubling of the population.

The crusades were a series of wars against the Muslims. However, the crusades also opened up trade with the Muslims. Crusaders established some states in the Arabian and Iberian peninsulas. This encouraged trade with Muslims, who at the time already had a trade system with Asia. Trading with Muslims allowed ideas to filter into Europe along with luxury goods. The Hanseatic League, an association of trading cities, helped Europe trade with other Mediterranean regions. Textile production was especially successful in trading, especially in Italy and Flanders. Trading also improved business techniques, bankers issued letters of credit to merchants; there were commercial partnerships for limiting risk of commercial investments, and many other techniques. This made it easier and safer for European merchants to trade, thus trading grew and prospered.

Long distance trading was a vital element in the growth of Europe. Throughout Europe was more or less the same. Same techniques were used and the same crops were available. When Europe began trading with the Arabian peninsula (with the Muslims), with Asia and with china, new ideas, techniques, food sources, and even domesticated animals were being diffused.
Europe arose from its dark ages and entered the middle ages. In the high middle ages, Europe’s economy grew, with renewed agricultural growth, population increase, re-urbanization, growing cities, and along with them, growing businesses. Trade helped open up this route of possibilities, while agricultural growth helped trade prosper. The growing economy of Europe allowed Europe to get involved in the areas of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.