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The Buildup to the CrusadesTo understand why Christians throughout Europe started on Crusades, we first have to understand what was happening throughout Muslim lands in what is known as the Middle East today.

In the 11th century a new Muslim dynasty was founded by a group known as the Seljuk Turks. These people lived in and around Central Asia for the past few centuries. The Seljuk group received its name after a famous and powerful leader who had converted to Islam in the mid-10th century. And finally, in 1055, his followers took control of the capital of the Abbasid dynasty in Baghdad (modern day Iraq_. Seljuk sultans, or a ruler of a Muslim territory, now controlled the region.

Having conquered the Abbasid, the Seljuk Empire became more and more eager to explain their territory. The Seljuk’s moved westward and conquered such nearby territories as Syria and Palestine from a neighboring dynasty, the Fatimid dynasty. The Seljuk’s conquered most of Asia Minor, or referred to as Anatolia in this time, when they defeated a large Byzantine army in the area.

Christians became worried for their own personal safety as word traveled of the Seljuk advances. As the Seljuk’s’ conquered more and more, their growing power threatened the Byzantine Empire itself. Eventually, Christians grew fearful about the fate of the Holy Land, especially the city of Jerusalem.

Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike all viewed Jerusalem as a sacred city. For Jews, it was their spiritual capital, the home of their once great temple. Jesus Christ, prophet to Christians, was crucified and rose from the dead in Jerusalem. To

Muslims, Jerusalem was where Muhammad rose to heaven during his Night Journey. All three groups saw Jerusalem as “theirs” – and all three would fight for it!

In the 7th century, Jerusalem (and the rest of the Palestine region_ came under Muslim rule. Here, Muslims built the Dome of the Rock, a shrine to Mohammad to mark the spot where they believed Muhammad rose to the heaves. While Muslims ruled to area, Christians, Muslims, and Jews all lived together peacefully. However, depending on the policies of the various Muslim rulers, the rights and freedoms given to non-Muslims varied at times.

Once the Seljuk’s overthrew the Abbasid dynasty and took control of Palestine, travel outside the empire became very unsafe. European Christians, while on pilgrimages to Jerusalem, were often attacked or even killed! Christians throughout Europe began to fear they would no longer be able to visit Jerusalem. Too, they worried about the fate of their city now that it fell into the hands of the Seljuk’s. This fear paved the way for the crusades.

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The Buildup to the Crusades1. How was Jerusalem valuable to Christians, Jews and Muslims?

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2. According to the text, what factors contributed to the buildup to the crusades?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Describe the relationship between those living in the Holy Land prior to the crusades:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The CrusadesAs you learned in the last section, the Crusades began as a response to the threat posed by the Seljuk’s. As the Seljuk’s advanced closer and closer to the capital of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople. Christians became increasingly worried. Too, unsafe travel to Jerusalem was already on the minds of most Christians. Then, in 1095, it happened; the Seljuk’s had moved too close! They were within 100 miles of Constantinople! Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos asked the leader of the church, Pope Urban II, for help.

The pope agreed something must be done to stop the advances made by the Seljuk’s, Pope Urban called for nobles and other church leaders to a meeting held in Clermont, France. It was here where Pope Urban initiated the first crusade! He called for a crusade to drive back to the Muslims, reclaim lost Byzantine land, and most importantly, reclaim Jerusalem for the Christians! The pope promised that all who joined the fight would be allowed into heaven.

Word of Urban’s proclamation traveled quickly. French-speaking nobles scrambled to organize armies to fight in the Holy Land. Knight’s townspeople, craftsmen, and peasants all enlisted their help to reclaim what they believed was theirs.

The desire to reclaim the Holy Land inspired most people to fight. In fact, many donned the Red Cross to

show their support Christianity. However, religious desire was only one reason people enlisted to fight. Merchants and tradespeople saw opportunities to earn money through trade. Others especially sons of nobles, hoped to gain land of their own in Jerusalem.

The first Crusade was led by four nobles and around 30,000 knights, peasants, and commoners. The Christians marched their way westward through Anatolia, then headed south toward Jerusalem. Finally, by June of 1099, the crusaders had reached the Holy Land.

By the time the Christians reached Jerusalem, the Seljuk Empire was starting to crumble into several smaller city-states. Muslims had troubled uniting to defeat the crusaders. The Christians quickly surrounded the city and scaled its walls. Within one month, in July 1099, the city had surrendered. Christians burst into the city, slaughtering Muslims and Jews throughout the city. Accounts from the time sat that Jerusalem was “ankle deep in blood.” Christians also looted the Dome of the Rock as they took whatever treasure they could carry. Many people opted to stay behind in Jerusalem rather than return home. These people created four feudal kingdoms throughout Anatolia.

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The Crusades1. How did decisions made by Byzantine Emperor Komnenos and Pope Urban lead to the First Crusade?

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2. What reasons did people enlist to fight in the First Crusade?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What allowed Christians to easily defeat their enemy in Jerusalem? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Describe the actions of Christians once they entered Jerusalem: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Crusades Part 2The Second Crusade (1146-1148)

The Christian crusaders reclaimed Jerusalem in the First Crusade in large part to the crumbling of the Seljuk Empire. A lack of unity among Muslims proved to be their largest weakness, one they could not overcome. However, Muslims realized the dysfunction and lack of unity was the cause of their demise.

As Muslims reunited, they fought back impressively and effectively. Eventually in 1144, Muslims were able to capture Edessa, the capital city of one of the kingdoms set up by the Christians following the First Crusade. Seeing their territory invaded again, and recognizing a resurgence of Muslim power, the Christians rallied trooped and embarked on the Second Crusade.

This crusade, however, ended in failure for the Christians. Crusader armies from Germany were beaten in Anatolia, well before reaching in the Holy Land. Some crusaders from Western Europe traveled by sea, however many did not prepare for the arduous journey and died along the way. When a French Army of 50,000 crusaders finally reached Jerusalem in 1148, they were fought off by a united Force of Muslims who came to the city’s aid. This defeat ended the Christian hopes. The Second Crusade ended with the Holy Land being reclaimed by the Muslims.

The Third Crusade 1189-1192

Eventually, Muslims reunited under common leadership. They had recognized the importance of having an organized empire. By the late 1100s, the

sultan Saladin had established the largest Muslim empire since the Seljuk’s ruled. Saladin was able to unit lands far to the east, as well as Egypt and Syria. Still under Muslim leadership, however, Saladin wanted control of Jerusalem.

By 1187, Saladin and his army captured Jerusalem. However, while Christians had previously slaughtered Muslims (including women and children) when they reclaimed Jerusalem after the First Crusade, Saladin did not kill prisoners. Instead, he sold them for ransom or freed them all together.

News of another large empower invading Jerusalem shocked Europeans into taking action. King Richard I of England (known as Richard the Lionheart) led the Third Crusade against Saladin.

As King Richard advanced through Anatolia, crusaders reclaimed the town of Acre. Here, Richard and Saladin had discussions about exchanging prisoners. Unsatisfied, with the speech of negotiations, Richard decided to prove a point – he ordered his men to kill all 2,700 Muslim prisoners at Acre.

Richard and his men then marched toward Jerusalem, however the army could not reclaim the city. Instead, Richard was forced to sign a treaty with Saladin; Christians were allowed to maintain many cities they captured in Anatolia and near Jerusalem. Muslims were allowed to keep Jerusalem, however they were required to allow peaceful Christians to visit the city on their pilgrimages.

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The Crusades Part 21. Which side controlled Jerusalem following the First Crusade?

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2. What spurred Christians to launch a Second Crusade?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Describe the outcome between Christians and Muslims at the second Crusade_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What contributed to a different outcome at the Second Crusade than Christians experienced in the First Crusade? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. When Saladin captured Jerusalem, how did his treatment toward Christians differ from how Christians previously treated Muslims?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What spurred Christians to launch the Third Crusade?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. How did Richard act toward non-Christians in Acre?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What was the outcome of the Third Crusade? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Crusades Part 3The Children’s crusade 1212Crusades to reclaim Jerusalem continued for another hundred years following the third Crusade. The most unusual of them all is what is known as the “Children’s Crusade/”In 1212, another crusade departed from Europe. However, this crusade was composed entirely of children. These children became convinced that they would be protected by God, and that once they arrived in Jerusalem he would slay their enemies.

A boy named Stephen of Cloyes is believed to have started this crusade. Stephen claimed that he had received a letter from Jesus ordering him to organize a crusade. He claimed that Jesus would part waterways and slay enemies for them. As the boys marched off toward Jerusalem, they clearly had no idea what they were doing.

The Children’s crusade was doomed to failure. Of the 30,000 children who enlisted, none had ever walked such distances before. The journey just across their own country caused most to drop out. Some died of exhaustion, dehydration or starvation. There was little preparation, as Stephen believed God would provide the way. These who made it to the Mediterranean were disheartened when the sea did not part as Stephen had said. They were forced to board boats to cross the sea, and that was the last anyone ever heard from them.

Manu wonder why parents and the Roman Catholic Church would let their children do this. Historians ponder the same question, but have reached a general agreement. Parents and church leaders hoped this would embarrass the kings of Europe enough to get a full-scale

crusade together. While the crusade was a complete disaster, it does give an indication of

how important Jerusalem was to Christians.

What was gained from the crusaders?

Christians were never able to reclaim the Holy Land for themselves. However, Muslims and Christians were able to learn a great deal from each other due to the crusades.

Since Christians traveled to foreign lands, and were surrounded by a new culture, it makes sense that they would learn the most from their enemy. Crusaders returned to Europe with new food products like rice, coffee, apricots, lemons and spices. New household goods appeared in European homes like mirrors, carpets, writing paper and wheelbarrows. Too, Crusaders brought back knowledge of algebra, better irrigation systems, the Arabic figures 0-9, and the game of Chess. Finally, European castles underwent immediate upgrades once Crusaders returned with information about the far superior Muslim castles.

Muslims were only able to learn from what the Crusaders brought with them, such as European types of linen and wool cloth. Also, types of weapons and armor were seen as upgrades in Muslim society.

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The Crusades Part 31. Who was Stephen of Cloyes and how did he convince people to join what became known as the Children’s

Crusade?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Imagine you were on the Children’s Crusdae. What difficulties would you face?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why is it believed that children were not stopped when they left on their crusade? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why is it only natural that Christians would learn more about Muslims, than Muslims would learn about Christians in the Crusades?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. In what ways was Muslim culture and society diffused to Europeans? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. How did knowledge of Christians and their way of life benefit Muslim Society?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Christians and the Crusades

All groups who participated in the Crusades felt the terrible effects of war. On both sides, Christians and Muslims alike were wounded and killed in battle. Families experienced the grief of losing a loved one. Disease and the difficulties of travel also plagued those who made difficult voyages. While all groups dealt with harsh negatives, Christians likely experienced the greatest benefits from the crusades.

The crusades brought far reaching economic changes to Europe. The Kings and Popes that desired to fight for Jerusalem needed a way to pay for supplies. Those with money started to make loans to those who needed access to it. Others saw the Crusades as a way to make money – investments were made in businesses that were expected to do well. For example, metalworking saw great spikes during the Crusades as the need for weapons and tools increased.

The Crusades changed the feudal system that was in place before. As thousands of nobles and knights left home to fight for the Holy Land, Monarchs tightened their power on those who remained. This increasing power forced peasants to seek a way to leave the manor, which ultimately led to the end of feudalism.

Finally, Crusaders found a new, interesting culture that greatly impacted their lives upon their return. While in the Middle East, Christians learned new ideas, such as algebra and chess. A new fabric started to impact clothing styles in Europe known as muslin. Foods like melons, apricots, rice and coffee became popular among the Europeans. Even spices like pepper started to be used regularly!

However, the whole reason for fighting the crusades, to reclaim Jerusalem for the Christians, was never fully accomplished. Even though Crusaders refused to recognize other faiths, they understood that Jerusalem was valued by people other than the Christians. These cultures and religious still value Jerusalem. Even today we continue to see extreme fighting near the Holy Land – both sides, Christians and Muslims, still cannot reach common ground on who has the right to claim the city.

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The Christians and the Crusades

1. How did the Crusades change the economic system of Europe?

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2. Explain how the Crusades contributed to the end of feudalism throughout Europe

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3. How did knowledge of Muslim society transform Europe

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Muslims and the CrusadesSince Christians traveled to foreign lands, then returned home with new foods, items, and knowledge, Europe experienced the greatest benefits from the Crusades. Muslims could only learn from what Christians brought with them, which limited what could be diffused from culture to culture.

All in all, the crusades were terrible for Muslims. Countless numbers of Muslims lost their lives in battles and massacres. Where Muslims had previously spared hostages, women and children, their Christian counterparts slaughtered thousands of innocent people.

However, Muslims did learn some new ideas from the Christians. New weapons and military techniques were adopted by Muslim armies, such as the idea of a standing and professional army. A standing army is one that is permanent and can be called to fight. New clothing styles and with European furs and leather goods started to be seen throughout the Arab world.

The greatest impact from the Crusades is that Muslims were able to repel the Christian invaders. However, one

must remember that Muslims, too, were the invaders at one point in history. Both sides are to blame for the violence that took place. However, before the Crusades, Muslims, Christians and Jews all lived together peacefully, even under Muslim control. What sparked violence between these groups was the initial call to reclaim Jerusalem by Pope Urban.

Due to their peaceful contact before the Crusades, Muslims were all well aware of Christianity. They did not agree with the teachers in the Bible; however they respected Christians, believed Jesus to be real, and understood the importance Jerusalem to the faith. Muslims maintained the beliefs for a long while after the Crusades, despite the fluctuations of peace and violence in the area. Christians, however, were bitter about their defeats in the Holy Land. This created hostility toward Islam that still exists by many Christians today.

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Muslims and the Crusades1. Why is it that Muslims did not learn as much about Christians as Christians had learned about them?

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2. How might Muslims develop a distrust about Christians based on their experiences in the Crusades________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. In what ways did Muslims incorporate European methods into their societies? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Jews and the CrusadesHow were Jews impacted?

While the Crusades mostly involved Muslims and Christians, Jews were impacted greatly as well. Along with Muslims, Jews were slaughtered as well in the Holy Land. Jews were perceived as just as much an enemy as Muslims. They were attacked for the crucifixion of Jesus and for being non-believers.

Jews

throughout Europe suffered extreme persecution and bouts of violence during the First Crusade. Many Crusaders wondered why they should travel so far from home when there were plenty of non-believers in Europe. Entire communities of Jews were massacred as Christians marched toward the Holy Land. Synagogues and temples were burned to the ground. Holy books and other religious texts were destroyed. Jews were tortured in order to make them accept Christianity and request forgiveness for past wrongs. Many were even burned to death at the stake.

Jews fought side-by-side with Muslims to protect Jerusalem in the First Crusades. Once the Crusaders scaled the outer walls of the city, most retreated to

their synagogue to pray since they knew the end was near. Crusaders marched their way through the city, slaughtering all Jews and Muslims in their path. Crusaders circled the synagogue and set it ablaze, effectively burning alive all Jews who sought safety inside its walls. Accounts exist that claim the Christians even sang the hymn “Christ We Adore Thee!” and held “their Crusader crosses on high” as the temple burned.

By the time the final Fourteenth Crusade had come to an end, the lives of Jews were miserable. Jews were forbidden to hold public office. Businesses that were previously owned and operated by Jews were now the property of Christians. Jews were forced to leave their homelands and relocated to eastern Europe once England banished Jews in 1290, France in 1394. It soon became popular for

communities throughout Europe to enforce segregation among Jews. Segregation is when one group is forced to be separate from the rest of a community. Jews were crammed into small neighborhoods that were separated from other non-Jews by walls or gates. These communities are called ghettos, or an area of a town that is isolated from the rest.

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The Jews and the Crusades1. Despite not being the reason for the Crusades, why were the Jews attacked anyways?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What were the experiences of many Jews during the crusades? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Describe what happened when the Crusaders entered Jerusalem________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How had Jewish life changed by the end of the Crusades?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is a ghetto? And how were they used for Jews? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________