IMC 2011: Sessions
Session 606: Trade, War, and Peace in the Crusader States from the 11th to 13th Centuries
Tuesday 12 July 2011, 11.15-12.45
| Sponsor: | Cardiff Centre for the Crusades, Cardiff University |
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| Organiser: | Betty Binysh, School of History, Archaeology & Religion, Cardiff University |
| Moderator/Chair: | Helen J. Nicholson, School of History, Archaeology & Religion, Cardiff University |
| Paper 606-a | 'Rich' Peace or 'Poor' War: The Dilemma of Crusader-Muslim Treaties in the Latin East (Language: English) Index terms: Crusades, Islamic and Arabic Studies, Mentalities, Politics and Diplomacy |
| Paper 606-b | The Gold of Tripoli: The Economy of the County of Tripoli in the Early 13th Century (Language: English) Index terms: Crusades, Economics - General, Numismatics |
| Paper 606-c | St Sabas: The Inevitable War? (Language: English) Index terms: Crusades, Economics - Trade, Military History, Politics and Diplomacy |
| Abstract | This session highlights fresh approaches and insights into life in the Latin East. Despite the religious authorities' exhortations to make war, Frankish and Muslim nobles made frequent treaties. One explained candidly that wealth from trade was preferable to poverty from war. How significant were such agreements for life in Outremer? The County of Tripoli's ability to support a gold coinage demonstrates its economic importance, despite decreasing political independence after 1187. This was vital in buoying up the territorially-deprived Crusader States. The St. Sabas dispute, initially between two rival mercantile communes, spiralled into a short but bloody war tearing all Outremer society apart. Why did these merchants matter so much and was war inevitable? |