The Crusades is a book by Zoe Oldenbourg, Pantheon Books, New York, 1966 and among the topics is who are the Crusaders and why did they go the trip from France to Jerusalem? It was one thing to journey to the city, but to maintain the area is a different story. The Barons from France took power and set up an organization remarkably similar to the one they left behind or a feudal system. On the other side of the equation was the Moslems who held control over the territory. It was interesting reading for the most part the two religions got along because the patch of territory is more desert than fertile land. In the desert, the ways of European agriculture do not survive very long, or the Europeans had to adapt or keep the populations relatively small or leave. Adaption takes time, energy, resources and lots of faith. On both sides, the structure of government meant a good general enable lands to be expanded, a bad general gave the lands back. A good ruler expanded the empire, a bad leader through infighting gave the land back. A good leader took in account of the people’s belief systems and lived in peace; a bad leader attack what was precious and spent most of the time fighting enemies.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, in the context of the book were the kingdoms the lords took over to collect the taxes and fees to administered the lands. They also took in plunder or stole each others merchandise and saw it was good. If the lands were relatively peaceful, a set amount of money came in each year and reasonably fair administration could be done. If the ruler was at war with a competitor the income of the lands went down and needed an influx of cash from what are now illegal events. At the time pirates worked for a share of the proceeds as well as giving a share to the ruler, one way or another funds needed to be accumulated.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions