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Crusades and jihads have been a part of the histories of Christianity and Islam for more than a century. This article examines this often-violent history from several perspectives, focusing heavily on the period between 1000 and 1300, and on the factors that allowed Europe and its overseas extensions in North America and Australia to economically overtake the rest of the world by 1600. While some weight is given to religion in the discussion, many of the effects seem to have been accidental, both negative and positive. These include the reforms in marriage and family formation introduced by the Catholic Church; demographic pressures in Europe; and the development of institutions in Northern Europe that provided continuity in commerce, administration, and archiving of intellectual advances. The factors that favored the economies of Northern Europe and/or held back other parts of the world do not appear to be related to anything inherent in Christianity or Islam.

Crusades & jihads have been part of the histories of Christianity & Islam for more than a century. This article examines this often-violent history from several perspectives, focusing heavily on the period between 1000 & 1300, & on the factors that allowed Europe & its overseas extensions in North America & Australia to economically overtake the rest of the world by 1600. While some weight is given to religion in the discussion, many of the effects seem to have been accidental, both negative & positive. These include the reforms in marriage & family formation introduced by the Catholic Church; demographic pressures in Europe; & the development of institutions in Northern Europe that provided continuity in commerce, administration, & archiving of intellectual advances. The factors that favored the economies of Northern Europe &/or held back other parts of the world do not appear to be related to anything inherent in Christianity or Islam. 30 References. [Copyright 2003 Sage Publications, Inc.]