563.  Culture of violence.

 Cantor (1993) proposed that the crusades, in 1095, 1144, 1190, and 1204, and the Spanish reconquest against the Moors,  with the large defeat of them in 1212, created a sense of ‘virtuous militarism’, that took hold of European culture. In its beginning, it manifested itself in heroic knighthood, in armour on horseback, conducting josting tournaments, in the 12^th-13^th century.

 Cantor (p. 301) claimed that all this inspired the voyages of ‘discovery’ and the imperialism of the European countries (Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, England) from the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

 Germany celebrated the bravery of the ‘Teutonic Knights’, from 1190.

 However, the Scandinavian Vikings spread terror in their conquest of many areas in Europe already from the 8^th century. Such conquests often arise from scarcity of land, and may have little to do with the crusades. Hitler also waged his wars for the sake of an expansion of ‘living space’ (‘Lebensraum’). But it may be that the crusades added a touch of heroism to wars of conquest. 

  

Cantor, N.F. 1993, Civilization of the Middle Ages, London: Harper Collins.