Transcript The Crusades

The Crusades
Crusades
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The Crusades were a series
of battles between Christians
and Muslims in the Middle
East.
Europeans used the word
“Saracens” to refer to the
non-Christians Arabs, Turks,
and Moors
The Muslims referred to all
Europeans as “Franks”
How did the Crusades Start?
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Christians from Europe had been travelling on
Pilgrimages to the Holy Land (Jerusalem) since
the 2nd century
In the 7th century, Muslims and Arabs conquered
the land but tolerated Christian pilgrimages
In 1071 a group of hard-line Muslims called the
Seljuk Turks took Palestine, and closed it off to
Christians
Also threatened to invade the Byzantine Empire
Why was Constantinople so
important geographically?
Role of Church in Middle Ages
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Never was there a
time when the
Church was so
powerful in Western
Civilization.
The Church was led
by popes. Priests and
nuns converted, gave
care to people
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Monks were spiritual
leaders (obviously)
They lived in monasteries
that acted like trade
schools and YMCAs
They also acted as local
charities/hospitals
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They spent years
transcribing the Bible
since the printing
press wasn’t used in
Europe yet.
The largest educated
class; therefore, held a
great deal of
influence
This also led to a great deal of “interpretation” of the bible…but that’s another story!
Churches and Cathedrals during
the Middle Ages
It was illegal for any building to be higher than
the local churches.
Role of Church
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Since there were no
strong empires or
kingdoms, the Church
was one organization
that had respect and
power
Popes were more
powerful than kings!
This position of power
was abused by many
Europe Before the Crusades
• Europe was in the “dark ages”
• Survival and battle consumed life; no new
technologies, art, or literature
• Life was “nasty, brutish, and short”
The Arab World
The Arab world was relatively peaceful and civilized at the
time.
•An Arab gentleman was expected to be a…
• poet
•philosopher
•and a warrior.
•Jerusalem itself was a multicultural city.
•Jews, Muslims and Christians all lived together
harmoniously.
•Christians on pilgrimages to Jerusalem were freely
allowed across to the Holy Places
The Muslim World
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Politically fragmented; made
up of small, warring states in
Turkey, Armenia, Anatolia,
Syria, Iraq, and Palestine
Military superior to the
Byzantine Empire
Superior wealth, technology,
science, etc.
Controlled most of Asia
Minor
Generally respected Christians
as “People of the Book”
Christians and Palestine
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Palestine was the site
of Jesus' death and
resurrection
Home to the original
“True” cross and the
stone of Jesus' tomb
Site of the church of
the Holy Sepulcher
Variety of shrines
Muslims and Palestine
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Qur'an established the
claim that both Jews
and Arabs are people
of Abraham (prophet)
Believe the Holy Land
was God's gift to them
It was the site of
Muhammad's
ascension to heaven
Jews in Palestine
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Torah establishes a
claim to the Holy Land
because they believe it
was a gift from God to
Abraham
King David brought
an ark containing the
original Torah here
Site of King
Solomon's temple
Pope Urban II
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Was asked to help by the emperor of the
Byzantine Empire
Saw the crusades as a way to unite all of
Europe’s Christians AND to increase his
personal power
Called on people to take up arms against the
“infidel” and save the Holy Land from the
“heathens”
Why would one go on a Crusade?
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To defend the Holy Land - the “fief of God” -promised
security in heaven if they fought
To escape serfdom and life on the manors – many were
promised freedom and land in return for fighting
To assure status (Knights) and gain wealth from sacking
the East
To strengthen the power of the monarchs
For adventure and excitement
Could gain forgiveness of their sins through battle
Romanticized View of Crusaders
Crusader Armies
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Infantry was composed of professional soldiers,
prosperous peasants, townspeople (and, in the
case of the last crusade – children!!!)
Most participants were relatively wealthy, but as
the crusades continued, many poor peasants were
recruited and participated as a way to escape
serfdom
Women did not participate in large number, but
rather were financial backers
Crusader Warriors
The Crusades
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There were a total of 7 Crusades (4 sanctioned)
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First Crusade began in 1059; 9 last one ends in 1272
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Crusaders marched to Constantinople killing and looting along the way
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Crusaders take Jerusalem in 1099
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Need Second Crusade to hold it – renamed the land the “Christian States”
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1147 – Second crusade launched when Muslims retake part of the Christian States, but
the Europeans failed
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Jerusalem falls to Muslims in 1187 under the leadership of Saladin – 3rd Crusade
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1192: two sides call a truce – Jerusalem would remain under Muslim rule, but
Christians could visit without fear of persecution
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Fourth crusade (1202): crusaders (led by Ventians) use the crusade to attack
Constantinople, a trade rival – never even made it to the Holy Land
The First Crusade – The Best and
The Worst
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Thousands of knights
and “barbarian” soldiers,
united under Christianity,
attacked Muslims and
Jews in Turkey and
Jerusalem to gain the
land for Christians.
The Jews in Jerusalem
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When the Crusaders entered the city, the Jews
panicked and gathered in the main synagogue to
pray
The Crusaders barricaded the exits and set fire to
the temple, killing all inside
Those who escaped were massacred
Crusaders adopted brutal methods of torture and
humiliation against their “enemies”
The Carnage Continues
– When the Crusades
arrived in Northern
Turkey, the carnage
began.
• Lycea was captured and
looted.
– babies cut to pieces;
– old people were
tortured.
– Unfortunately, most of
the inhabitants of Lycea
were actually
Christians…(guess they
should have done their
homework!)
Immediate Impact of the Crusades
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Persecution of Jews and
Muslims
Economic development
via trade between the
Byzantine Empire and
Europe
Kings and popes gained
power as a result; many
Lords and Knights who
posed a challenge had
died in battle
Long-Term Effects of the Crusades
• Exposed Europeans to new cultures
• Increased interest in trade and acquiring goods from Asia, Africa, and the
Middle East
• Increased trade = economic boost for the west
• Weakened the feudal system – most peasants did not return to the land
• Introduced sophisticated aspects of Muslim culture – arts, philosophy, etc.
– to the Europeans
So….
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The Crusades were the first conflict between the
Christian and non-Christian Worlds
They dramatically altered the politics,
economics, and social structure of Western
Europe
They set a precedent for inter-religious wars
which continues to this day
They were, ironically, the end of the Dark Ages
in Europe