March 28, 2006	Tuesday	Safar 27, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

RAWALPINDI, March 27: Crusades were fought during the 11th and 12th centuries for economic gains, said renowned historian Dr Mubarak Ali. “Though fought on the basis of religion, new researches also term economic gains as one of the factors behind the ‘holy wars’ all along the history”, he said while delivering a lecture on ‘mediaeval European history, at the National College of Arts in Rawalpindi on Monday.

The historian said the institution of church played a dominant role during the mediaeval period in Europe. There were no political, social or economic rights of the masses. The only education given to a common man was that he must not revolt against rulers.

Dr Ali said only two institutions — church and the king — were most powerful. Churches used to issue an index of publications to tell people which book they had to read. They also gave clearance to imported books, and the material considered ‘improper’ or ‘unsuitable’ for readers, was burnt. Churches also used to have torture cells, he said.

Despite suppression, people resorted to revolts, which were always crushed.

However, domination always brings changes, and the same happened in Europe where the renaissance movement emerged. When changes are delayed, society falls victim to conflicts, said Dr Ali, author of books on European history.

He said after the fall of the Roman Empire, several new states emerged and the entire Europe was disintegrated. It was followed by the emergence of feudalism and new political powers.

Then, he said, there was a time when conflicts developed between feudals and kings. Church supported the king and, as a result, it assumed an important position and all important royal events including crowning of kings, started to take place in churches. It was made a law that the eldest son of the king would be crowned after the monarch’s death. The same law was also adopted by feudals. King was powerful by virtue of authority and feudals due to their land.

Dr Ali said after the end of Mughal empire in the subcontinent, feudalism also emerged in this part of the world.

He said with the increase in urban population, a community of traders came into being. Interest was not legal in Christianity, therefore, Jews were invited to begin business of interest. Gradually structures of cities started to change and business houses took place of churches. Barter system was replaced by the monetary system.