Middle Ages Regents Practice Exam 2025 - Free Regents Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct choice highlights that the Crusades led to an increase in trade routes and towns. During the Crusades, European armies traveled to the Middle East, where they encountered various cultures, including advanced Islamic societies. This interaction facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies.

As European crusaders returned home, they brought back valuable merchandise such as spices, silks, and other luxury items that were not readily available in Europe. This increased demand for these goods spurred economic growth and led to the establishment of new trade routes to the East, linking Europe more closely with Asian markets. Consequently, towns that served as trading centers began to flourish, contributing to the rise of a new merchant class.

Over time, as trade expanded, these interactions helped lay the groundwork for the later developments of the Renaissance and the age of exploration, as Europeans sought new trade opportunities. The flourishing of trade routes and towns signifies the lasting impact of the Crusades on the economic structure of medieval Europe.