<P> Europe was reviving, however, as more organized and centralized states began to form in the later Middle Ages after the Renaissance of the 12th century . Motivated by religion and dreams of conquest, the kings of Europe launched a number of Crusades to try to roll back Muslim power and retake the holy land . The Crusades were unsuccessful in this goal, but they were far more effective in weakening the already tottering Byzantine Empire that began to lose increasing amounts of territory to the Seljuk Turks and later to the Ottoman Turks . They also rearranged the balance of power in the Muslim world as Egypt once again emerged as a major power in the eastern Mediterranean . </P> <P> The Crusades led to flourishing of trade between Europe and the outremer region . Genoa, Venica and Pisa created colonies in regions controlled by the Crusaders and came to control the trade with the Orient . These colonies also allowed them to trade with the Eastern world . Though the fall of the Crusader states and attempts at banning of trade relations with Muslim states by the Popes temporarily disrupted the trade with the Orient, it however continued . </P> <P> Slavery was a strategic and very important part of all Mediterranean societies during the Middle Ages . The threat of becoming a slave was a constant fear for peasants, fishermen and merchants . Those with money or who had financial backing only feared the lack of support, should they be threatened with abduction for ransom . </P> <P> There were several things which could happen to people in the Mediterranean region of the Middle Ages: </P>

How did the romans take control of the mediterranean world