The Crusades: 1073 - 1269

The High Middle AgesDuring the Middle Ages many changes took place in Europe. The growth of trade brought about new business practices and bigger towns. As people’s lives changed one element remained constant:

Religion continued to play a huge role in people’s lives. Religion inspired the arts and, at times caused wars and conflict among different groups and nations.

Prominent Religions

Complete the following Questions in your History workbook.

Questions:1) Based on the map what

three religious groups were prominent at the time?

2) Which Religious group/s dominated Europe?

Prominent Religions

Complete the following Questions in your History workbook.

Questions:1) Based on the map what

three religious groups were prominent at the time?

2) Which Religious group/s dominated Europe?

Answers:3) Christian, Muslim and

Eastern Orthodox4) Eastern and Western

Europe were both mostly Christian

The Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church was the prominent Religion throughout most of Europe during the Medieval period, and therefore the majority of individuals were Catholic.

The church was very powerful and was controlled by the Pope in Rome, who was seen as God’s representative on Earth.

Hierarchy of the Catholic Church

Religion was a very important part of people’s lives.

• All people attended Church at least once a week• They believed in Heaven, Hell and Purgatory (a

place of penance between Heaven and Hell, where individuals remain until they were free from their sins)

• The Church collected taxes, called tithe, which had to be paid yearly by everyone. It was one tenth of all new born animals and one tenth of crops harvested.

• To seek forgiveness for their sins people would attend confession, pay the church a sum of money for their sins, donate money, goods and gifts to religious establishments such as monasteries or go on a pilgrimage to a shrine or religious location. The two most popular shrines in England were the:

– The Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham– The Shrine of St Thomas of Canterbury

Reviewing the Catholic ChurchComplete the following questions in your History workbook.

Questions

1) What was the religion of Medieval Europe?

2) Who was the Pope?3) What was a tithe?4) Do you think the medieval church

controlled the people? Explain your answer.

Reviewing the Catholic ChurchComplete the following questions in your History workbook.

Questions

1) What was the religion of Medieval Europe?

2) Who was the Pope?3) What was a tithe?4) Do you think the medieval church

controlled the people? Explain your answer.

Answers:

1) Roman Catholic Church2) God’s representative on Earth3) A yearly tax paid to the Church

which was one tenth of all animals raised and one tenth of all crops harvested.

4) Yes, the Church was very powerful and dominated many aspects of peoples lives. Its influences spread from inspiring arts, advising Kings and to causing wars and conflicts. King Henry IV almost lost his throne because of a quarrel with the pope.

The Crusades

Main Idea

The Crusades were a series of attempts to gain Christian control of the Holy Land. They had a profound economic, political, and social impact on the societies involved.

It was all about Jerusalem

Three major religious groups all claimed Jerusalem in the land of Palestine as their holy

city.

1) To Christians, it was the place where Jesus was crucified and ascended to heaven

2) To Muslims, it was the place where Muhammad ascended to heaven

3) Jews, it was the site of the ancient temple built by Solomon

In 600 CE, Arabs entered the city and took control. But the Arabs allowed Christian and Jewish pilgrims to visit Jerusalem. In fact, Jews and

Christians could live in Palestine as long as they paid their taxes like everyone else.

The Problem: Around 1095, a new group of Arabs took control of Jerusalem. They closed the city to

Jewish and Christian pilgrims.

Launching the Crusades Goal of the Crusaders

• European Christians launched series of religious wars, Crusades, in the Middle Ages

• Goal to take Jerusalem, Holy Land, away from the Islamic Empire

• Jerusalem was the site of Holy Temple of Jews, also where Jesus was crucified, buried and to come again

• Jerusalem was vital to Christians and they sort to control the city

Islamic Control of the Holy Land

• Jerusalem was in control of North African Muslims during the 11th Century

• Seljuk Turks ( Muslims who had migrated from Central Asia) took control of Persia and other lands persecuting Christians visiting the region

• Seljuk Turks attacked the Byzantine Empire and destroyed Emperor Alexius I’s army in 1071

• Emperor Alexius turned to Western Europe and Pope Urban II, for help.

The Solution: The Pope acted. He called for a crusade - a volunteer army whose goal was to retake Jerusalem. Many people volunteered.

About 30,000 men left Western Europe to fight in Jerusalem.

This became the first of a number of Crusades.

Complete the following Questions in your History workbook.

1) Which three religious groups showed an interest in Jerusalem and why?

2) What was the aim of the first Crusade?3) What event sparked the first Crusade?4) Which Pope initiated the first Crusade?

Complete the following Questions in your History workbook.

1) Which three religious groups showed an interest in Jerusalem and why?2) What was the aim of the first Crusade?3) What event sparked the first Crusade?4) Which Pope initiated the first Crusade?

Answers:5) To Christians, it was the place where Jesus was crucified and ascended to

heaven. To Muslims, it was the place where Muhammad ascended to heaven. To Jews, it was the site of the ancient temple built by Solomon.

6) To gain control of Jerusalem.7) Seljuk Turks attacked the Byzantine Empire and destroyed Emperor Alexius

I’s army in 1071 who them sort help from Rome. At the same time, Christians in Jerusalem were being persecuted.

8) Emperor Alexius turned to Western Europe and Pope Urban II, for help.

The Council of ClermontPope Urban II called church leaders to

the council in Clermont, in France:

• He described the dangers faced by Byzantines

• He called on Christian warriors to put aside differences and fight against the Ottoman (Islamic) Empire

– This was an effective call to arms

– Hundreds of knights and nobles volunteered for the Crusade

– They all set out to meet foes with the slogan “God wills it!”

Complete the following questions in your History workbook

Questions:1) Is this a primary or secondary source and how do you know this?2) What do you learn from this source about the first Crusade?

Complete the following questions in your History workbook

Questions:1) Is this a primary or secondary source and how do you know this?2) What do you learn from this source about the first Crusade?

Answers:3) Yes, because it is an extract from a speech given by Pope Urban II at the council of Clermont in

1095 just before the first Crusade.4) All people/Christians were encouraged to fight in this Holy War, Knights, nobles and peasants.

The population were lead to believe that by fighting in this war, their sins would be forgiven and they would be granted entry to Heaven.

For knights, this was a chance to use their fighting skills, something they enjoyed and did well. They were delighted to have such a worthy battle to fight.

For peasants, this was a chance to escape from their dreary life in the feudal system. The Pope promised that if they died while fighting a holy crusade, they would automatically be welcomed into heaven.

For others, it was a chance to have an adventure, and perhaps even to get rich.

Crusaders left France in 1096 for First Crusade. In all, nine Crusades set out between 1096 and 1291 to claim or protect the Holy Land.

• Crusaders where from two major groups, peasants and knights

• Unskilled peasants answered Pope’s call– Eager to fight non-Christians in

the Holy Land– On the way they attacked and

slaughtered German Jews despite protests

– They fell to Seljuk Turkish army at Jerusalem

First Crusade

• Better trained in warfare than peasants, but unprepared for hardship of journey

• Traveled for three years • The siege of Jerusalem was a

victory for Crusaders and a disaster for the city

• They renamed four states in the Holy Land, intended to be strongholds against future Muslim conquests

Knights

Fighting the Crusades

Sign of the Crusade (Heraldry) - The Red Cross: Each crusader had a huge red cross, made out of fabric, stitched onto their shirts or armour. It made all crusaders, irrespective of rank or background, appear to be a unified army. It reminded the crusaders that they were fighting a holy cause. The red cross was added to flags and banners.

After a two-month siege of the city, the city fell. The crusaders had won back Jerusalem. Some men stayed. Some headed home. Those who returned brought back new foods and new forms of culture.

The Results: After about three years of harsh travelling, hunger, disease, freezing weather, and quarrels amongst themselves, the crusaders finally arrived in Jerusalem.

More Crusades: It was a short victory. Less than 50 years later, Muslims once again conquered Jerusalem. Again the Pope called for a crusade to take back the city.

Third Crusade 1189-1192

• A new leader arose in Muslim world, 1177

• Salah ad-Din, known to Europeans as Saladin

• He overthrew Fatimids (Muslims from North Africa) and took the title of sultan

• He set out to take back Crusader states, succeeded and drove European Christians out of Jerusalem.

Saladin

The 1st and 3RD Crusades

Complete the following Questions in your History workbook.

Question:1) Look at the map. What

difference/s do you notice between the first and third crusades? What conclusions can you draw?

.

The 1st and 3RD Crusades

Complete the following Questions in your History workbook.

Question:1) Look at the map. What

difference/s do you notice between the first and third crusades? What conclusions can you draw?

Answer:2) More nations/ areas seemed

to be involved. Evident by the increased localities crusaders originated from. First Crusades were mostly from France and Holy Roman Empire, third Crusaders from England, France, Holy Roman Empire. Frist Crusaders, most travelled by land, third Crusaders, travelled by land and sea.

Three Kings• Richard, Philip, Frederick set out from Europe on the Third Crusade• Frederick was killed, Philip quarreled with Richard, and returned home• Only King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England fought on in the Holy Land

Fierce Fighting• Richard and Saladin fought fiercely for control of Holy Land• Richard won several battles but was not able to drive Muslims forces out of

The Holy Land• Richard could not take Jerusalem and had to return to England

Mutual Respect• Richard and Saladin admired each other as military leaders and gentlemen• They made proposals for peace, including marriage alliance of Richard’s

sister and Saladin’s brother; which never took place because of religious differences

Third Crusade

Richard I- The Lion HeartRichard was the third son of Henry II. He twice rebelled against his father before he became King of England in 1189, but based himself in his Duchy in Aquitaine inherited from his mother Eleanor. He spent only six months of his reign in England and spoke only French. He appointed William Longchamp as Chancellor of England during his absence but he was overthrown by Richard’s brother John.

Richard acquired a reputation as a leader and warrior becoming known as Richard ‘The Lion Heart’ or ‘Coeur de Lion’. His experience in warfare came from controlling rebellions in Poitou in the 1170s and against his father, Henry II, in 1183. He took up Henry's plans to recover Jerusalem on his accession in 1189 and set out to establish bases for crusades in Sicily in 1190 and Cyprus, which he took in 1191. Engaging in the siege of Acre, which he brought to a swift conclusion, he set off down the coast to Jaffa, conducting a fighting march against Saladin.

In the third Crusade 1191–92 he won victories at Cyprus, Acre, and Arsuf (against Saladin), but failed to recover Jerusalem. While returning overland he was captured by the Duke of Austria, who handed him over to the emperor Henry VI. He was held prisoner until a large ransom was raised.

On his release he returned briefly to England, where his brother John had been ruling in his stead. His later years were spent in warfare in France, where he was killed by a crossbow bolt while besieging Châlus-Chabrol in 1199. He left no heir.

The Frist and Third CrusadeComplete the following questions in your History workbook:1. When was the first Crusade?2. When was the third Crusade?3. Who won control of Jerusalem during the 1st

Crusade?4. Who was Saladin?5. Who was Richard I?6. Who won control of Jerusalem during the 3rd

Crusade?

The Frist and Third CrusadeComplete the following questions in your History workbook:1. When was the first Crusade?2. When was the third Crusade?3. Who won control of Jerusalem during the 1st

Crusade?4. Who was Saladin?5. Who was Richard I?6. Who won control of Jerusalem during the 3rd

Crusade?Answers:1. 1096 -10992. 1189 -11923. Christians4. Saladin was the leader of the Muslim forces during the 3rd Crusade who fought

to win back Jerusalem.5. Richard I was one of the three Christian Kings who set out to reclaim Jerusalem

during the 3rd Crusade.6. The Islamic empire keep control of Jerusalem.

Over the next 70 years, there were several other crusade attempts, but they were motivated more by personal gain than by religious purpose. None succeeded. By 1291, 200 years after the first crusade, European leaders lost interest. Western Europe never admitted defeat. They simply  stopped asking for new crusaders.  

Economic Changes• Historic evidence of trade between Muslims, Byzantines, Europeans prior to

Crusades• Crusades enhanced existing trade• Returning Crusaders brought more goods, spices, textiles, to Europe• Increase in trade added to changing European economy during Middle Ages

• Crusades led to deaths of many knights and nobles

• Lands were left vulnerable• Other ambitious nobles took control

of unoccupied lands• Nobles then had more power, and

influence in Europe

Political Changes

• Some Europeans respected other cultures for others it lead to intolerant

• Many viewed non-Christians as enemies and persecuted Jews

• Holy Land Jews saw Crusaders as cruel invaders

• Relations were strained for centuries

Social Changes

Effects of the Crusades