THE CRUSADES1096-1291

A Quest for the Holy Land

Crusades

A long series or Wars between Christians and Muslims

They fought over control of Jerusalem which was called the Holy Land because it was the region where Jesus had lived, preached and died

Causes of the Crusades

The Call to Arms Byzantine emperor

Alexius Comnenus asked for help from West.

Pope Urban II called for the defeat of the Turks, returning the Holy Land to the Christians. If you die assured place in heaven.

Pope Urban II

Goals of the Crusades (from Western Perspective) Economic, social and political goals as well as

Religious Stop Muslim Turks from conquering additional

land from Christian Byzantine Empire. Reclaim Palestine / Holy Land from Muslims

and reunite Christendom, which had split in 1054.

Opportunity to unite Europe. Eventually goals change and include

Economic.

Who Answered the Call?

Feudal LordsKnightsPeasantsFueled by religious fervor, adventure, land.

Based on this map, which holy city was the destination of the first three? How about 4th crusade?

The First Crusade (1096-1099)

Peasant army Ill prepared Lacked military

equipment Many killed by

Muslim Turks Knights

Succeeded in capturing Jerusalem, July 15, 1099

Second Crusade (1147-1149) After victory many Christians went back

home. The Turks eventually took back much of

the territory and re-captured Jerusalem. 2nd Crusade was unsuccessful in taking

back Jerusalem.

Second Crusade (1147-1149)

Saladin leads the Muslim Turks to victory, defeating the Christians

* He was considered a very wise ruler. He was known for his sometimes kind treatment of fallen enemies. Many Christians saw him as a model of knightly chivalry.

Third Crusade (1189-1192)

King Richard of England and Saladin fight several battles, eventually convinces Turks to allow Christians to visit the Holy Land

• Well known in Literature, due to Robin Hood

Fourth Crusade (1199-1204)

Do not reach Holy Land Western – East Christian relations

strained Crusaders sack Constantinople in 1204! In 1453, when Constantinople is under

siege by Turks, Byzantine Empire does not bother to ask Rome / West for help.

Crusades Continue Through 1200’s

Several more crusades attempted with no victories for the Christians

Children’s crusade of 1212, - 30,000 soldiers - many of them under 12 years old – Never made it to the Holy Land

Most died from cold, Hunger or sold into slavery

The last crusader citiesfell in 1291.

Crusades Die Out

Lack of interest Rising European prosperity Repeated military defeats Pope influence lessened, tired of

religious call to crusade

Results of the Crusades Fatal weakening of Byzantine Empire

after Constantinople sacked Vast increase in cultural horizons for

many Europeans. Stimulated Mediterranean trade. Need to transfer large sums of money for

troops and supplies led to development of banking techniques.

Romantic and imaginative literature.

Results of the Crusades Knowledge introduced to

Europe Heavy stone masonry, construction of

castles and stone churches.

Siege technology, tunneling, sapping.

Moslem minarets adopted as church spires

Weakening of nobility, rise of merchant classes

Enrichment was primarily from East to West--Europe had little to give in return

Distrust (mild term) between religions