Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, and the Crusades.

If the crusaders had managed to conquer and hold Egypt, how would this have affected developments in Nubia and Ethiopia. Could they have even converted to Roman Catholicism?
 
Well, wouldn't Ethiopia/Abyssinia become another bulwark of Orthodoxy as Catholicism spreads, much like the Eastern Roman Empire?
 
Well, wouldn't Ethiopia/Abyssinia become another bulwark of Orthodoxy as Catholicism spreads, much like the Eastern Roman Empire?

Yah I agree if Catholicism spreads then the Catholic power's of europe might not look to highly to Ethiopia. And isn't ethiopia's religion coptic not orthodox?
Also who would rule egypt?
 
Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia.

I was thinking that the Venetians with their constant interest in trade, would get involved with these kingdoms. I'm not sure to what extent, but it could open up all sorts of possibilities.
 

archaeogeek

Banned
I was thinking that the Venetians with their constant interest in trade, would get involved with these kingdoms. I'm not sure to what extent, but it could open up all sorts of possibilities.

The Venetians got involved, commercially.
 
I don't know about conversion, but this will have major impact. First, the Nubian kingdoms are likely to remain Christian and not become Muslim. Second, the various Nubian kingdoms and Ethiopia will become part of an enlarged Christendom. They will benefit from increased trade and intellectual exchange.

It is probable that the Nubians and Ethiopians will participate in various ecumenical councils. I think it is doubtful their churches will become subordinate to the Pope, but some kind of relationship will develop.

The biggest change is that Christendom now has access, or possibly even control, of the Red Sea trade to India. Nubia and Ethiopia will probably benefit from some of this.

A potential issue is that with Egypt under control of the Crusaders is what happens if the Mongols arrive on schedule? Egypt was the last major Muslim power after the Mongols destroyed everything else. What impact will this have? Will the Mongols be more inclined to convert to Christianity than Islam? Or will their captive Muslim populations still encourage them to eventually convert so they can rule them better? That process took centuries.

Another thing is that with Crusader Egypt, you now have much more stable Crsudader kingdoms in the Levant. Cilician Armenia likely survives. The east coast of the Mediterranean is likely to remain permanently Christian controlled.
 
If the christians have trade routes to india the european's probably won't be as adament to find other trade routes to india. Also I think that the Byzantines might become stronger due to the loss of a major muslim power. Also I think think that the Mongolians would convert to Christianity but I really don't know what would happen to egypt due to the mongolian invasion.
 

archaeogeek

Banned
If the christians have trade routes to india the european's probably won't be as adament to find other trade routes to india. Also I think that the Byzantines might become stronger due to the loss of a major muslim power. Also I think think that the Mongolians would convert to Christianity but I really don't know what would happen to egypt due to the mongolian invasion.

Venice had trade routes to India already IOTL, the main motor for atlantic exploration was Genoa-Venice rivalry, so it changes nothing. It's no random luck that the earliest explorers (with a few exceptions like Verrazzano) came from Genoa.
The Mongolians would not convert to roman catholicism. Neither would Egypt for that matter, they had fairly established local variants of christianity.
 
Venice had trade routes to India already IOTL, the main motor for atlantic exploration was Genoa-Venice rivalry, so it changes nothing. It's no random luck that the earliest explorers (with a few exceptions like Verrazzano) came from Genoa.
The Mongolians would not convert to roman catholicism. Neither would Egypt for that matter, they had fairly established local variants of christianity.

Well would the mongolians become Oriental Orthodox?
 
The copts are an early example of preferring a non Christain ruler to a different Christian tradition. They were more or less happy with first Persian and then Islamic domination because although they were opressed they were opressed without any favour or particular hatred. In contrast the Orthodox and presumably the Catholics tried to end their coptic heresy with particular persecution.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
Why would they convert. They were quite happy being Copts. i doubt even the Egyptian Copts would convert, even though they'd be under Catholic rule.
 
Top