AP World History: The CrusadesPeriod Three: 600 CE – 1450 CE

NY State Standards 2, 3Common Core 1, 2, 7, WS 1

Let’s Explore Jerusalem!

Jerusalem was founded in 3000 BCE. Israel only became a country in 1948. Today, Israel is home to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Conflict

unfortunately still exists between Israel and the Palestinians, who believe that Israel belongs to them.

The Israeli Army

These Israeli soldiers are praying. At 18 years old, women have to serve in the

military for 2 years, men for 3.

The Jewish Quarter

The Arab Quarter

The Armenian Quarter

Ethiopian Christians in Jerusalem

Should the Wall Separating West and East Jerusalem Be Torn Down?

I What were the Crusades?

A) The Crusades were a series of wars fought over control of the Holy Land (Jerusalem) in the Middle Ages (1095-1291) between Christian knights and the Saracens (Muslim Turks).

II Why did the Crusades Begin?A) The Umayyad Muslims captured the Holy Land in the 7th century CE. Christians and Jews were allowed to worship freely

at their holy sites. Umayyads built the Dome of the Rock (a mosque) on the Temple Mount (where the Jewish Temple once stood.) Muslims believe this is where Muhammad ascended to

heaven.B) In 1070 the Seljuk Turks (also Muslim) conquered Jerusalem and threatened the Byzantine Empire. Unlike the Umayyads, the Seljuk Turks did not allow non-Muslims to visit their holy sites.C) In 1095 the Byzantine Emperor asked Pope Urban II to help

him fight the Seljuk Turks in Jerusalem.

Why would the Byzantine Emperor ask for help from the Pope? Didn’t they not like each other?

III What was at stake for Christians?

A) Church of the Holy Sepulcher: Christians believe the church was built over the site where Jesus was crucified.

A monk prays in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

What was at stake for Christians Continued…

B) Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity: Where Jesus is believed to have been born.

IV Pope Urban II Calls for a CrusadeA) 1095 Pope Urban II gave a speech, asking all Christians to

fight for the Holy Land, promising forgiveness of sins, salvation in heaven, and wealth.

"Christians, hasten to help your brothers in the East, for they are

being attacked. Arm for the rescue of Jerusalem under your captain

Christ. Wear his cross as your badge. If you are killed your sins will be

pardoned.“ – Pope Urban II, 1095

Can you think of any other reasons why Christian knights wanted to go on a

crusade?

V The First Crusade (1095 – 1099)

A) 30,000+ Christian knights went on the First Crusade. Not all made it to Jerusalem.

B) On the way to Jerusalem, the crusaders massacred and looted Jewish communities. This was due to anti-Semitism, and the belief that Jews were

responsible for killing Jesus.C) Godfrey of Bouillon led a successful take-over of Jerusalem. He began the

Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The French word for cross is “croix”, which led to the word “crusades”.

All crusading knights sewed crosses on their

tunics.

Anti-Semitism is hatred towards Jews.

A Christian Depiction of the Crusades

How does this painting depict the Christian Knights? How does it depict the Saracens (Muslim Turks)? Can you trust this painting as a

true account of the Crusades?

Primary Source from an Unknown Christian Knight, 1099

"Exulting with joy we reached the city of Jerusalem on Tuesday, June 6, and we besieged it in a wonderful manner… One of our knights… climbed on to the wall of the city. When he reached the top, all the defenders of the city quickly fled… Our men followed and pursued them, killing and hacking, as far as the temple of Solomon [the Wailing Wall], and there was such a slaughter that our men were up to their ankles in the enemy's blood. . . .

Entering the city, our pilgrims pursued and killed the Saracens [Muslim Turks] up to the Temple of Solomon. There the Saracens assembled and resisted fiercely all day, so that the whole temple flowed with their blood… Then the crusaders scattered throughout the city, seizing gold and silver, horses and mules, and houses full of all sorts of goods. Afterwards our men went rejoicing and weeping for joy to adore the [Holy] Sepulcher of our Savior Jesus and there discharged their debt to Him. . . . On the eighth day after the capture of the city they elected Duke Godfrey prince of the city…The city was captured by the Christians on Friday, July 15."

Kingdom of Jerusalem

VI What Happened in the Later Crusades?A) By 1144 CE the Saracens had recaptured a lot of the Holy Land. This led to the 2nd Crusade. The crusading army was led by the Kings of France and Germany… who were defeated before they ever got to Jerusalem!B) 1174 Saladin became the leader of the Saracens. He conquered Jerusalem in 1187, which led to the 3rd Crusade. King Richard I (the Lionhearted) of England, King Philip of France, and the Holy Roman Emperor Barbarossa led the Christian army. Barbarossa drowned while bathing. King Philip went home. In 1192, Richard agreed to peace with Saladin; Christians could visit their holy sites and keep what was left of their kingdom, as long as they did not make further attacks.

What Happened in the Later Crusades Continued…

C) Saladin died in 1193. Some Christian knights saw this as an opportunity to take back Jerusalem. This led to the 4th Crusade. On the way to the Holy Land, the knights attacked a Christian city in exchange for ships from Venice. They then attacked Constantinople (also a Christian city!) when the Byzantine Emperor failed to give them money.

D) 1212 CE 30,000 children (mostly from France and Germany) joined the Children’s Crusade. It was led by Stephen, a 12 year old boy. Most were never heard from again. Many were sold into slavery. *This crusade was never officially blessed by the Pope.

Who Was Eleanor of Aquitaine?At 15 years old Eleanor was married to

Louis VII, the King of France. In 1147 she joined her husband on the 2nd Crusade. She traveled with 300 other ladies, all dressed in armor and carrying lances.

They never fought, but they helped the wounded. After returning to France

following their defeat, Eleanor successfully divorced her husband…

though it may have had more to do with the fact that she bore him no sons.

Capture of Jerusalem by Saladin, 1187The Battle of Hattin decimated the knights and soldiers of the Latin states. The remnants of the fighting forces of the Kingdom sought refuge in the fortified coastal cities and especially at Tyre. Through the months of July and August, Saladin successively occupied the remaining towns, cities, and castles of the Holy Land. His initial attack upon Tyre failed, however, and the city was by passed. Late in September Saladin's armies camped before the Holy City itself. The Holy City of Jerusalem was besieged on September 20. It was surrounded on every side by unbelievers, who shot arrows everywhere into the air. They were accompanied by frightening armaments and, with a great clamor of trumpets, they shrieked and wailed, "Hai, hai." The city was aroused by the noise and tumult of the barbarians and, for a time, they all cried out: "True and Holy Cross! Sepulchre of Jesus Christ's resurrection! Save the city of Jerusalem and its dwellers!" The battle was then joined and both sides began courageously to fight. But since so much unhappiness was produced through sorrow and sadness, we shall not enumerate all the Turkish attacks and assemblies, by which, for two weeks, the Christians were worn down.... During this time it seemed that God had charge over the city, for who can say why one man who was hit died, while another wounded man escaped? Arrows fell like raindrops, so that one could not show a finger above the ramparts without being hit. There were so many wounded that all the hospitals and physicians in the city were hard put to it just to extract the missiles from their bodies. I myself was wounded in the face by an arrow which struck the bridge of my nose. The wooden shaft has been taken out, but the metal tip has remained there to this day. The inhabitants of Jerusalem fought courageously enough for a week, while the enemy settled down opposite the tower of David. Saladin saw that he was making no progress and that as things were going he could do no damage to the city. Accordingly, he and his aides began to circle around the city and to examine the city's weak points, in search of a place where he could set up his engines without fear of the Christians and where he could more easily attack the town.... At dawn on a certain day [Sept 26] the King of Egypt (that is, Saladin) ordered the camp to be moved without any tumult or commotion. He ordered the tents to be pitched in the Vale of Jehosephat, on the Mount of Olives, and on Mount joy, and throughout the hills in that region. When morning had come the men of Jerusalem lifted up their eyes and, when the darkness of the clouds had gone, they saw that the Saracens were pulling up their tents as if they were going to leave. The inhabitants of Jerusalem rejoiced greatly and said: "The King of Syria has fled, because he could not destroy the city as be had planned." When the turn of the matter was known, however, this rejoicing was quickly turned into grief and lamentation. The tyrant[Saladin] at once ordered the engines to be constructed and balistas to be put up. He likewise ordered olive branches and branches of other trees to be collected and piled between the city and the engines. That evening he ordered the army to take up arms and the engineers to proceed with their iron tools, so that before the Christians could do anything about it, they would all be prepared at the foot of the walls. The cruelest of tyrants also arrayed up to ten thousand armed knights with bows and lances on horseback, so that if the men of the city attempted a foray they would be blocked. He stationed another ten thousand or more men armed to the teeth with bows for shooting arrows, under cover of shields and targets. He kept the rest with himself and his lieutenants around the engines. When everything was arranged in this fashion, at daybreak they began to break down the comer of the tower and to attack all around the walls. The archers began shooting arrows and those who were at the engines began to fire rocks in earnest. The men of the city expected nothing of the sort and left the city walls without guard. Tired and worn out, they slept until morning, for unless the Lord watch the city, he labors in vain who guards it. When the sun had risen, those who were sleep ing in the towers were startled by the noise of the barbarians. When they saw these things they were terrified and overcome with fear. Like madmen they yelled out through the city: "Hurry, men of Jerusalem! Hasten! Help! The walls have already been breached! The foreigners are entering!" Aroused, they hastened through the city as bravely as they could, but they were power less to repulse the Damascenes from the walls, either with spears, lances, arrows, stones, or with molten lead and bronze. The Turks unceasingly hurled rocks forcefully against the ramparts. Between the walls and the outer defenses they threw rocks and the so called Greek fire, which bums wood, stone, and whatever it touches. Everywhere the archers shot arrows without measure and without ceasing, while the others were boldly smashing the walls.

Capture of Jerusalem by Saladin, 1187The men of Jerusalem, meanwhile, were taking counsel. They decided that everyone, with such horses and arms as could be mustered, should leave the city and march steadily through the gate which leads to Jehosephat. Thus, if God allowed it, they would push the enemy back a bit from the walls. They were foiled, however, by the Turkish horsemen and were woefully defeated…. The Chaldeans [Saladin and his army] fought the battle fiercely for a few days and triumphed. The Christians were failing so by this time that scarcely twenty or thirty men appeared to defend the city walls. No man could be found in the whole city who was brave enough to dare keep watch at the defences for a night, even for a fee of a hundred besants .With my own ears I heard the voice of a public crier between the great wall and the outer works proclaiming (on behalf of the lord Patriarch and the other great men of the city) that if fifty strong and brave sergeants could be found who would take up arms voluntarily and keep guard during the night over the comer which had already been destroyed, they would receive five thousand besants. They were not found.... Meanwhile, they sent legates to the King of Syria, begging him to temper his anger toward them and accept them as allies, as he had done for others. He refused and is reported to have given this reply: "I have frequently heard from our wise men, the fakih,[from al-Fakih - a wise man] that Jerusalem cannot be cleansed, save by Christian blood, and I wish to take counsel with them on this point." Thus, uncertain, they returned. They sent others, Balian and Ranier of Naples"' and Thomas Patrick, offering a hundred thousand besants. Saladin would not receive them and, their hopes shattered, they returned. They sent them back again with others, demanding that Saladin himself say what kind of agreement he wanted. If possible they would comply; if not, they would hold out to the death. Saladin had taken counsel and laid down these ransom terms for the inhabitants of Jerusalem: each male, ten years old and over, was to pay ten besants for his ransom; females, five besants; boys, seven years old and under, one. Those who wished would be freed on these terms and could leave securely with their possessions. The inhabitants of Jerusalem who would not accept these terms, or those who did not have ten besants, were to become booty, to be slain by the army's swords. This agreement pleased the lord Patriarch and the others who had money .... On Friday, October 2, this agreement was read out through the streets of Jerusalem, so that everyone might within forty days provide for himself and pay to Saladin the tribute as aforesaid for his freedom. When they heard these arrangements, the crowds throughout the city wailed in sorrowful tones: "Woe, woe to us miserable people! We have no gold! What are we to do? . . ." Who would ever have thought that such wickedness would be perpetrated by Christians? . But, alas, by the hands of wicked Christians Jerusalem was turned over to the wicked. The gates were closed and guards were posted. The fakihs and kadis, [judges] the ministers of the wicked error, who are considered bishops and priests by the Saracens came for prayer and religious purposes first to the Temple of the Lord, which they call Beithhalla and in which they have great faith for salvation. They believed they were cleansing it and with unclean and horrible bellows they defiled the Temple by shouting with polluted lips the Muslim precept: "Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! . . ." [God is Great] Our people held the city of Jerusalem for some eighty-nine years. . . . Within a short time, Saladin had conquered almost the whole Kingdom of Jerusalem. He exalted the grandeur of Mohammed's law and showed that, in the event, its might exceeded that of the Christian religion.

Acre, A Crusader Castle, Near Haifa, Israel

The Crusaders in Mainz 1096, May 27In the year 1095 the Catholic Church, aroused by the Muslim encroachments in Palestine, proclaimed a crusade against the Saracens to recover Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulcher. The following year, in the spring of 1096, bands of zealous crusaders led by Monks and soldiers set out for the Holy Land. Many of the crusaders were pious; but there can be no question that many also were runaway serfs, ambitious business men, adventurers, and criminals. As they passed through Germany on their way to Jerusalem this motley crew killed thousands of "infidel" Jews in the larger cities such as Speyer, Worms, Mayence [Mainz], and Cologne. In May, 1096 a band of crusaders led by Emico, a German noble, forced its way into the city of Mayence and finally into the archiepiscopal palace where the Jews had taken refuge. The slaughter and suicide of the Jews in this palace with all the attendant horror and hysteria are graphically described in the following two selections taken from a Hebrew historical account by Solomon bar Samson - of whom we know very little - who wrote about 1140.

It was on the third of Siwan.... at noon [Tuesday, May 73], that Emico the wicked, the enemy of the Jews, came with his whole army against the city gate, and the citizens opened it up for him. Emico a German noble, led a band of plundering German and French crusaders. l Then the enemies of the Lord said to each other: 'look! They have opened up the gate for us. Now let us avenge the blood of 'the hanged one' [Jesus]." The children of the holy covenant who were there, martyrs who feared the Most High, although they saw the great multitude, an army numerous as the sand on the shore of the sea, still clung to their Creator. Then young and old donned their armor and girded on their weapons and at their head was Rabbi Kalonymus ben Meshullam, the chief of the community. Yet because of the many troubles and the fasts which they had observed they had no strength to stand up against the enemy. [They had fasted to avert the impending evils] Then came gangs and bands, sweeping through like a flood until Mayence was filled from end to end. The foe Emico proclaimed in the hearing of the community that the enemy be driven from the city and be put to flight. Panic was great in the town. Each Jew in the inner court of the bishop girded on his weapons, and all moved towards the palace gate to fight the crusaders and the citizens. They fought each other up to the very gate, but the sins of the Jews brought it about that the enemy over. came them and took the gate. The hand of the Lord was heavy against His people. All the Gentiles were gathered together against the Jews in the courtyard t blot out their name, and the strength of our people weakened when they saw the wicked Edomites overpowering them. [The Edomites were the traditional foes of the Jews; here, Christians are meant.] The bishop's men, who had promised to help them, were the very first to flee, thus delivering the Jews into the hands of the enemy. They were indeed a poor support; even the bishop himself fled from his church for it was thought to kill him also because he had spoken good things of the Jews.... [Archbishop Ruthard had been paid to remain and defend the Jews. He was later accused of having received some of the plunder taken from them.]…

- Solomon Bar Samson

VII What were the consequences of the Crusades?

A) Short Term Consequences:1. By 1302 the Crusades were officially over. There had

been 9 official (Pope approved) crusades, and many more minor ones.

2. The Holy Land remained in the hands of the Saracens (Muslim Turks).

3. 1-5 million people died.

What were the consequences of the Crusades Continued…

B) Long Term Consequences:

1. Many nobles who joined the Crusades never returned. This allowed kings to increase their power, breaking down the feudal system.

2. Europeans were exposed to Muslim technology, education, and luxury goods. This led to a revival of trade.

3. The Holy Land was controlled by the Muslim Turks until the end of WWI in 1922!

Focus Questions

1. What were the causes of the Crusades?2. Why do you think anti-Semitism increased

during the Crusades?3. What were the consequences of the Crusades?4. Were the Crusades a success or failure?

Explain.5. Which side would you have fought for and

why?

Key VocabularyCrusadesPope Urban IIUmayyadsSaracensTemple MountDome of the RockChurch of the Holy

SepulchreFirst CrusadeGodfreyKingdom of Jerusalem

Second CrusadeEleanor of AquitaineSaladinKing Richard IThird CrusadeFourth CrusadeChildren’s Crusade