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 472 Outlmes of European History relations between the representatives of the opposing religions. In 1 192 Richard concluded a truce with Saladin, by the terms of which the Christian pilgrims were allowed to visit the holy places in safety and comfort. In the thirteenth century the crusaders began to direct their expeditions toward Egypt as the center of the Mohammedan power. The first of these was diverted in an extraordinary manner by the Venetians, who induced the crusaders to con- quer Constantinople for their benefit. The further expeditions of Frederick II (see above, p. 457) and St. Louis need not be described. Jerusalem was irrevocably lost in 1244, and although the possibility of recovering the city was long considered, the Crusades may be said to have come to a close before the end of the thirteenth century. Section 82. Chief Results of the Crusades For one class, at least, the Holy Land had great and perma- nent charms, namely, the Italian merchants, especially those from Genoa, Venice, and Pisa. It was through their early inter- est and by means of supplies from their ships, that the conquest of the Holy Land had been rendered possible. The merchants always made sure that they were well paid for their services. When they aided in the successful siege of a town they arranged that a definite quarter should be assigned to them in the cap- tured place, where they might have their market, docks, church, and all that was necessary for a permanent center for their com- merce. This district belonged to the town from which the mer- chants came. Venice even sent governors to live in the quarters assigned to its citizens in the kingdom of Jerusalem. Marseilles also had independent quarters in Jerusalem, and Genoa had its share in the county of Tripoli. This new commerce had a most important influence in bring- ing the West into permanent relations with the Orient. Eastern products from India and elsewhere — silks, spices, camphor,