The Crusades

AD 1095-1290s

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

WHAT WERE THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF THE CRUSADES? CAN

THE IMPACT OF THE CRUSADES STILL BE SEEN TODAY?

Periods of Byzantine Empire

Islamic expansion

CRUSADES– Definition:

• Crusades: Holy War

– The Two Sides: • Christians from Europe• Muslim Turks from Middle East

The First Crusade

• Background:–Causes:

• Byzantine Emperor asked Pope for help• Byzantine empire was besieged by Muslim

armies– Byzantine empire lost half its land to Muslim

armies by 1071• Holy Land closed to Christian pilgrims(person

who goes on a religious journey) by Islamic empire

• Free eastern Christians from Islamic Empire• Keep Europe Christian

The Crusades

• The Crusades were an attempt by the European Church to “reclaim the Holy Land”

• Jerusalem had been conquered by Arabs around 640 AD

• 1095 Pope Urban calls for first Crusade

The First Crusade

• Two Groups went to fight the 1st Crusade:– People’s Crusade: 1096

• Made up of untrained and illiterate mostly peasants with some knights.

• Lacked military discipline and knowledge and were massacred in Asia Minor by the Turks.

• Main Crusader Armies:– Left Europe in Aug 1096.– Gathered in Constantinople in Nov.– 30-35,000 crusaders

Second Crusade (1147-1149)

• After victory many Christians went back home

• The Turks eventually took back much of the territory

• King of France and Emperor of Germany sent troops to stop the Turks

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)

• Led by King Richard I

• Won back many cities/territories from Saladin

• Failed to capture Jerusalem leads to the Fourth Crusade

Crusades Continue Through 1200’s

• Several more crusades attempted with no victories for the Christians

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

• Crusades end around 1285

Results of the Crusades

• I.F. Turks Traveled they would Trade

• I = Improvements – Ships, Maps, Explorers

• F = Feudalism declines because Feudal lords die or spend too much money on military.

• T = Turks still rule the Holy Land

• T = Travel – Europeans want to travel more

• T = Trade – Europeans want product from the East such as sugar, cotton, silk, spices, etc.

Aftermath

• Victory in 1st Crusade was short lived.– Within 50 years, Muslim armies re-

conquered Jerusalem

• The 1st Crusade would be the only victory for the European Christian armies.

• Succeeding crusades failed to win any territory; including a “Children’s Crusade”

The Crusades Conclusion• At Least 8 Crusades• Effects of Crusades:

– Increased dislike among Jews, Christians and Muslims

– Pope and lords lost power– Kings gained Power– Trade with Asia and Middle East reborn– Interest in exploration