Further Crusades after the first were much less successful, because the Arabs had gotten themselves together to fight back. By 1200 AD the Europeans had lost most of their territory along the Mediterranean coast (this is the time of Robin Hood). The Arabs also had a lot of success during this time with conversions in Africa. On the other hand, during this period the Arabs also gradually lost control of Spain and Portugal to the invading Europeans. And they lost control of India and some of West Asia to the Mongols. The Mongols also invaded China. Trade with China and India began to increase, thanks to the Mongol establishment of a safe trading zone all across Asia.

At the same time, the Europeans were busy fighting wars at home against each other. England and France fought throughout the 1100's, 1200's and 1300's over which would control western France. The city-states in Italy fought with each other and with Germany. During the 1300's, there was also a terrible plague in Europe known as the Black Death, in which many people died.

By the 1400's, however, Europe was recovering from the wars and from the plague. There was a civil war in England, but elsewhere the Renaissance was beginning.

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