After the unsuccessful Crusades it was simply not possible to compel the potentially protesting people, capable of a great deal, to continue. To continually kill those knights who were unwilling was also not so simple (although executions in the Middle Ages functioned to eliminate those who were not submissive, and prevent the emergence of a systemic, armed, organized and efficient opposition).

In this situation, there naturally arose campaigns within Europe itself. These were the Crusades in Finland and Russia (1232-1240), to Smyrna ( (1343 – 1348), against the Ottoman Turks (1396), and campaigns during the Bohemian Wars (1420-1434)… But soon those involved in these Crusades realized their futility. Wealth was no longer acquired in these wars, while the participants were routed. Therefore these campaigns actively began to be replaced by commercial and military expeditions to distant lands. In this case the energy of strong and active individuals was aimed not only at satisfying their needs, but in a majority of cases also met the requirements of the elite in the distribution of their influence on other countries.

Still, the Crusades remained a unique historical method of deliverance from a potent opposition at the point of economic rise in Europe. The psychological mechanism of their origin was also related to systems of comparison. Thus, wealth increased for family members who had inherited private property and land. The growth of such inequality resulting from an accumulation of causes gave birth to the desire to not fall behind in this process. Desire and motivation emerged. This was dangerous for the elite, especially those of the third generation. And what should be done with such people if they are strong, distinguished, ambitious, prepared to die to achieve greater status, to obtain property, to rule, and who no longer wish to go to their death in a Crusade?

The massive expeditions for wealth to India, China, and especially America were psychoeconomically typical. This course of events was understood by the smarter representatives of the elite in this period. They supported such expeditions. Those seeking adventure, wealth, and success followed Columbus to rich America. Columbus brought this news to Europe at a time when it needed deliverance from people who were able to destroy the rulers in more than one realm. It is no accident that historians so exaggerate the fact of Columbus’ appearance in Europe with the news of the discovery of America. America had been discovered long before Columbus, but the news of Columbus’ success was transmitted at the right moment to the right people, so that a massive epidemic of expeditions for gold and wealth was organized.

With the building of caravels, active colonization of other peoples began, bases in Africa became feasible, and thus slave trade began. The discovery of America in 1492 and of a sea route to India around Africa by Vasco da Gama in 1498, given previous successes in maritime trade, created the economic and sociopsychological mechanism for satisfying the need of strong, active and capable individuals who were inclined to take risks and increase their social and other status.

Eighty years passed between the execution of the Knights Templar and the economic mechanism that directed the energy of bold, venturesome, and strong individuals to seize new lands and become rich outside of the countries where they lived. How then at this time did the rulers of Europe control the slowly growing opposition, with the strong and active individuals of each new generation? This involved a whole series of measures, which were found in different countries for each new generation. Otherwise the elite or even the country itself might cease to exist. In this situation the elite organized themselves with greater rapidity and enthusiasm than the protests of the masses. Considering the growth of protests by the subjects, the third-generation elite greatly desired to submit to the strong elites of other countries, for it was better to be a vassal to someone stronger but preserve your wealth, than to risk losing everything and simply be hanged. Either hang your opponents with the help of the elite of other countries, or be hanged.