Medieval Crusades Class Agenda - November 13, 2023

The Crusades were a series of religious wars between ______ and Muslims.

Emperor Alexius I of the Byzantine Empire asked Western leaders for help fighting the ______, especially Pope Urban II.

He pleaded and preached to knights, princes, and commoners to go on crusade to save Christendom from the ______…

Jerusalem was a sacred city to both Christians and ______ with many sacred sights.

Christian leaders also wanted to reconquer the holy land in the name of ______.

The Islamic Perspective: Muslims had conquered most of the Middle East, northern Africa, most of Spain, and some ______ lands.

The Muslims believed they were defending their lands - They viewed the Christians as invaders and infidels, which they were. - They never took the ______ seriously enough In the 1000s, Turkish Muslims captured Jerusalem and many of the lands surrounding the Holy Land - It was known that going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land was a risky journey. Pope Urban II called for the first crusade to take place. He challenged Europeans to fight to reclaim access to the Holy Land. The Pope promised absolution (forgiveness of all sins) for those who went on Crusade, to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims - Many nobles, princes, and commoners fought and died for Christ and the Church - For the forgiven of their sins, for glory, for power, for riches… by the Church It was a long, dangerous journey to the Holy Land - Thousands set out for Jerusalem, many were were peasants with no military skills - Most never made it and were killed before reaching Jerusalem. About 5000 Europeans set out for Jerusalem, most did not return Crusading for Western Christians was seen as the ultimate way to show devotion to the Church and God - In the Middle Ages, religion was a central part of their culture - “pilgrimage” to Jerusalem, which was difficult and dangerous, was a praised practice, like the Haj for Muslims. Byzantine Empire under Alexios I asked for help from Pope Urban II. - The Muslims had seized Byzantine lands, and he wanted the help of Western armies - But all knights and nobles had to take an oath to return all conquered lands to the Byzantine Empire Pope Urban II also believed the crusades could reunite with the Eastern Orthodox Church; it didn’t happen. Many Christians viewed Islam as a threat. - Numerous attacks on both sides occured over the centuries. - Islam had spread throughout the Middle East, northern Africa and most of Spain. - Many Europeans wanted to counter the expansion of Islam by expanding Christendom The First Crusade: Nobles, Knights, and commoners, mostly French, captured lands north of modern-day Israel. - After 3 years, the ______ conquered Jerusalem in a brutal, bloody battle in 1099, seizing it from the Muslims - No one was spared on either side. - Western Leaders established a Western Kingdom in the East called the Crusader States Jewish Persecution and Anti-semitism - Crusading armies murdered Jews and destroyed Jewish towns while traveling to the Holy Land. - ______ often interpreted the crusades as a war against all non-Christians - Anti-semitism was already prevalent throughout Europe There were Eight Crusades from 1096 - 1291 - The 2nd Crusade Germany with Conrad III and Louis VII of France ended in defeat in 1145 at Damascus (Syria) Battle of Hattin in 1187, Saladin, the Muslim leader and of the Ayyubid Dynasty crushed crusader armies, had recaptured Jerusalem, leading to the 3rd Crusade The Third Crusade (1187-1192) - Richard the Lionheart of England (Richard I), Philip II of France, and Fredrick of Barbarossa of Germany A truce between Richard and Saladin in 1192 allowed Christians pilgrims to travel to Jerusalem safely - The city would stay in Muslim hands - The 4th crusade sought to seize Egypt and then tried to seize the riches of Constantinople - 5th through the 8th crusades failed to regain territory or win support from the Church and many European monarchs - In all eight major Crusades—varying in size, strength, between 1096 and 1291, little was gained… Negative effects: - ~ 1 million to Five million dead, but it’s difficult to pin down an accurate number - Destruction of Jewish villages and murder of many Jews - Created a growing distrust of the East and Western Christendom, and did not reunite the two Christian kingdoms Positive effects - Increased power and influence of Western leaders and the Church - Increased trade between the West and the Middle East - Intellectual exchange between East and West.