1095 - 1272

The Crusades were a series of wars between

European Christians and Muslims fighting for the

Holy Land (Especially the City of Jerusalem).

In the 1050’s -- the Seljuk Turks began expanding

into the lands of the Byzantine empire.

By 1071 -- the Seljuk had taken most of the Holy

Land.

The Byzantine emperor,

Alexius I, grew worried

enough that he asked his

rival, Pope Urban II, for

help.

Pope Urban II agreed to

help, but his motives were

more than self-serving.

Pope Urban II felt he could use the situation to:

Regain the holy land

Reunite Christendom (West & East)

Increase the Pope’s power and image

In 1095, at the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II called

Christians to action.

The Pope’s speech was well received especially among his

fellow Franks. Many lords and knight came forward to take

the cross.

Siege of Nicaea

First enemy city (Nicaea)

Nicaea was previously Byzantine City that was occupied

by Turks.

Crusaders surrounded it and siege it for 6 weeks.

As it was about to fall, the Byzantines offered the city a

peaceful surrender.

The next morning, the crusaders saw the city covered in

Byzantine flags.

Battle of Dorylaeum

First major battle

The crusaders were inferior, but when their main

force entered the battle, they were severely

outnumbered the Turks. The Turks retreated,

leaving the crusaders in awe.

Edessa Baldwin, one of the leaders of the crusade, wanted

power. Thoros, Edessa’s leader, agreed to give him the

city when he dies. Baldwin had Thoros murdered.

Bladwin now ruled Edessa.

Siege of Antioch Bohemond bribed a city tower guard to let the crusaders

in.

Thousands of innocent Muslims and Christians were

killed indiscriminately.

A monk claimed to have found the lance that Jesus was pierced with while on the cross -- sign from their god

that he favored their crusade.

Siege of Ma’arrat al-Numan The crusaders siege a small town and eat its inhabitants.

Jerusalem

The crusaders constructed siege towers and started

attacking the walls.

The crusaders got into Jerusalem.

The crusaders poured into the city. Thousands of

innocent citizens were killed. The crescent was taken

down and the cross raised in its place.

50,000 Fatimid troops were ambush by the remaining

crusaders.

The Children’s Crusade Stephen of Cloyes

During the year 1212 A.D. about 30,000 French children

assembled in bands and marched through the towns and villages,

carrying banners, candles, and crosses and dinging “Lord God,

exalt Christianity. Lord God, restore to us the true cross.”

In Germany, during the same year, a lad named Nicholas really

din succeed in launching a crusade.

He led a mixed multitude of men in women, totaling 50,000 in

number, over the Alps into Italy, where they expected to take ship

for Palestine.

The leader oft his crusade was Prince Edward

of England, afterward King Edward I.

Edward succeeded in capturing Nazareth.

The kingdom of Jerusalem was gradually lost

until the last Christian city, Acre, fell in 1291.

The crusades contributed to increase the wealth of

the Church and the power of Papacy.

They created a constant demand for the

transportation of men and supplies, encouraged ship-

building, and extended the market for eastern wares

in Europe.

They helped to undermine feudalism.

Intellectual development.

Material development.

Voyages of Discovery.