The age of the crusades . bsent. The householderwho found it difficult to save his possessions whilekeeping personal guard over them was assured thatall his family and effects would be under the watch-ful protection of the church, with anathemas alreadyforged against any who should molest them. If onewere without means he might borrow to the limit ofhis zeal, with exemption from interest. It was un-derstood that the Jews were still under necessity ofpaying back the thirty pieces of silver with whichthey had bought the Christians Lord, the interest onwhich, compounded through the centuries, was
The age of the crusades . bsent. The householderwho found it difficult to save his possessions whilekeeping personal guard over them was assured thatall his family and effects would be under the watch-ful protection of the church, with anathemas alreadyforged against any who should molest them. If onewere without means he might borrow to the limit ofhis zeal, with exemption from interest. It was un-derstood that the Jews were still under necessity ofpaying back the thirty pieces of silver with whichthey had bought the Christians Lord, the interest onwhich, compounded through the centuries, was nowequal in amount to all there might be in the vaultsof this accursed race. When we remember the wars of modern timeswhich have originated in the cupidity of men, we arenot surprised that the same disposition, inflamed bythe sense of dire need at home and the vision ofuntold treasures outre mery with heavenly rewardsbeyond the sky, should have led to the same resultin an age that knew almost nothing of the arts CHAPTER VI. THE PAPAL POLICY—DEMORALIZATION OF THEWORLD AND THE CHURCH—HILDEBRANDSPURPOSE INHERITED BY HIS SUCCESSORS. E shall fail to appreciate the inception ofthe crusades if we overlook the influenceof the papal policy in the middle movements of Europe against Asia,being under the direct patronage of thepopes, facilitated the plans of Rome to consolidateand universalize the ecclesiastical empire. To un-derstand this policy we must recall the condition ofthe church in its relation to popular life and the sec-ular powers. We have referred to the fact that the year 1000had been looked forward to as that which shouldmark the end of the world. So common was theexpectation of this termination of human affairs thatmany charters, which have been preserved from thisperiod, begin with the words, As the world is nowdrawing to its close. When, however, the fatal daypassed without any perceptible shock to the universe,the popular credulity added the thi
Size: 1437px × 1739px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidageof, booksubjectcrusades
