Economic Warfare and the Crusades

Stantchev, Stefan K. (ed.)

Intended and unintended effects of trade embargoes imposed in support of crusades in the late Middle Ages
Economic warfare waged in support of crusades complicated political and economic realities in Europe and the Mediterranean during the late Middle Ages. Medieval governments proved largely unable to enforce economic restrictions. However, trade embargoes had multiple, consequential by-effects on both the sender and the target. Moreover, the heritage of economic warfare in support of crusade efforts played a major part in the evolution of international relations and the formation of cultural constructs.