Transcript The Crusades

Basic Facts
• Emperor Alexius Comnenus calls for help against Muslim Turks who
were threatening to conquer his capital, Constantinople
“Come then, with all your people and give battle with all your strength,
so that all this treasure shall not fall into the hands of the
Turks…Therefore act while there is still time lest the kingdom of the
Christians shall vanish from your sight and, what is more important,
the Holy Sepulchre shall vanish. And in your coming you will find
your reward in heaven, and if you do not come, God will condemn
you.”
• Pope Urban issues a “holy war” or Crusade to gain control over the
Holy Land (8 total, 4 that were directed at Jerusalem)
• Over the next 200 years various Crusades would be launched
Goal: To recover Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslim Turks
The Crusades: 1096-1204
Motives behind the Crusades
Religious: God Wills It!
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Urban’s call brings out an
outpouring of religious feeling and
support
Support came from all levels; kings
to peasants. In 1096, up to 60,000
knights become Crusaders
Red cross over tunic became a
common symbol
Few return
Motives behind the Crusades
Where there’s money, there’s a way!
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Kings and Church use
crusades to get rid of troublesome
knights
Youngest son of Lords/Kings
seek fame and financial opportunity
Leveled field between knights
and commoners
Merchants profited by making
cash loans to finance Crusades
- Ships leased
- Materials/Resources sold
- Key trade routes to India,
Southeast Asia and China secured
from Muslim traders
First and Second Crusades
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1097: Three large armies had
gathered in Constantinople.
French, Germans, English,
Scots, Italians and Spaniards.
Crusaders ill-prepared. Little
knowledge of geography,
climate and culture of the Holy
Land
No strategy to capture
Jerusalem
1099, 12,000 Crusaders
capture Jerusalem after a one
month siege.
Land claimed was from Edessa
to Jerusalem
Four feudal states carved out
Reoccurring conflict ends with
Saladin taking Jerusalem in
1187
Third and Fourth Crusades
• Third Crusade’s goal to recapture Jerusalem was a stalemate after
three European kings tried to overthrow Saladin. Richard the Lion
Hearted (England) agree to a truce in 1192
• In 1198 Pope Innocent III calls for another Crusade. By this time the
knights involved are mainly pursuing material wealth. Italian and
Byzantine politics get in the way and the capital of Constantinople is
looted and sacked.
• This leads to the break between East and West which affects the
Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic
Later Crusades
• One of the crusades is into Northern
Africa. Why?
• Children’s Crusade: many killed or sold
into slavery. Why would they do this?
• Spanish Crusade - 1492 (Reconquista)
over the Moors which leads to the
infamous Spanish Inquisition
Facts
• Crusaders came from all walks of life
• Many inspired by a deep faith and a
yearning to see the Holy Land
• Pilgrims of Christ
• About ¼ died in battle and another ¼ died
along the way
• Many suffered to defend their small strip of
land, “Kingdom of Jersalem”
Cause/Effect
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Causes
Take back holy land
Spread of religion
Difference or
intolerance of other
religion
Pope’s Wish
Greed/Material
Wealth
Effects
• People Died
• Byzantine Empire
weakened
• Pope loses power
• Kings become stronger
• Muslims distrust
Christians
• Trade opens/Improved
European economy
• Town and cities grow
Why the Crusades matter now
• Opened up Europe to ancient Greek/Roman
thought paving way to Renaissance
• Trade enhanced European economy and
created forerunners to modern banking and
financial institutions
• Art and literature benefited
• Persecution on Non-Christians by Christians
leaves a deep-rooted bitterness
• Idea that violence is acceptable when used for a
“higher cause” became more common and is still
used today