Lateran IV functioned as economic warfare legislation against Muslim enemies

Evidence

Canon 71 of the council specifies how and from where the crusaders are to set forth, fixes tithes on ecclesiastical revenues to help pay for the endeavor, and prohibits merchants from selling strategic materials (arms, iron, or timber) to Muslims. Tournaments are forbidden, since they impede the business of the Crusade. Innocent apparently meant to lead the Crusade himself, though he died in 1216 before it set off. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1019

Categorization

• XREF: The strategic-goods export ban (arms, iron, timber to Muslims) parallels the code-setting economic control in Milgrom’s law-merchant work — canon law as trade regulation.