• The Pope ordered the nobles of Western Europe to send crusading armies in order to drive out the expanding Islamic forces.
  
  
• After nearly 200 years of conflict, the Crusaders were defeated by the Islamic powers.
  
  
• The power of the Pope and the kings of Western Europe declined, and the feudal system began to collapse.
  
  
• At this time, the Italian cities that became departure points for the Crusades gained economic strength through increased trade and transportation.
  
  
• A movement grew that sought a more human-centered way of life free from feudal customs. The learning and arts of the ancient Greek and Roman world, which had been preserved in the Islamic world, were reintroduced to Europe, leading to the Renaissance.