Download The Crusades

The Crusades
Coach Parrish
OMS
Chapter 14, Section 3
The Message
On November 18, 1095, a crowd gathered
to hear the message of Pope Urban II. He
urged his people to become soldiers for
God.
“You common people who have been
miserable sinners, become soldiers of Christ!
You nobles, do not fight with one another.
Use your arms in a just war! Labor for an
everlasting reward.”

The Message, cont.

The crowd roared its approval. They
shouted “God wills it!” Pope Urban II
called for the people to capture the
Holy Land – region sacred to
Christians because Jesus had lived and
taught there.
Pope Urban II @ Clermont
Causes of the Crusades

Over the next 200 years, the Church
launched eight military expeditions
called the Crusades, to capture the
Holy Land.
Pilgrims to the Holy Land


Since about 200 AD, European
Christians had been traveling to
Jerusalem – city in the Holy Land
sacred to Christians, Jews, and
Muslims.
Pilgrims – people who journey to a
sacred place.
Rise of the Turks


For centuries, Jerusalem had been
controlled by Arab Muslims who
welcomed Christian pilgrims. In the
1000s, the Seljuk Turks took control of
the Holy Land and began attacking
Christians.
They also attacked Constantinople,
capital of the Byzantines.
Why Go to War??


The Pope wanted to return the Holy
Land to the Christians. He wanted
pilgrims to be able to visit the Holy
Land without attack from the Turks.
He also wanted war because it would
unite Europeans against the Muslims.
The Crusades would also make him
and the Church look better.
A Series of Crusades

The pope’s best chance for capturing
the Holy Land was with the lords and
knights. Before these armies could
assemble however, a group of
common people set out for Jerusalem.
Peter the Hermit and the
People’s Crusade


In 1096, a group of common people
led by Peter the Hermit set out for
battle. They settled in Constantinople
and were advised to wait for help.
The people rebelled and attacked the
Turks.
They were defeated as only a small
part of his army survived.
Peter the Hermit –
Leading the way to Jerusalem
The First Crusade


At last, the European armies sent by Pope
Urban II reached Constantinople. Joined by
Peter’s army, the knights fought their way to
Jerusalem.
They captured Jerusalem in 1099 killing
10,000 people in the process. After the
battle, they set up four kingdoms. The
kingdoms were attacked by the Muslims,
causing more crusades.
First Crusade Painting
Later Crusades


The Second Crusade had little success.
Then a strong Arab Muslim leader, Saladin,
rose to power.
By 1187, Saladin had retaken Jerusalem.
King Richard I of England tried to persuade
Saladin to give back Jerusalem. They
worked out a deal where Christians were
able to travel there again safely.
King Richard I - Lionheart
Statue of Saladin –
Damascus (Place of Death)
Results of the Crusades

The Crusades brought important and
lasting changes to Europe even though
the Crusaders were never able to
regain all of the Holy Land.
Increased Trade


The European ships that were used to
carry the Crusaders brought back
important goods such as jewelry,
glass, rugs, and spices. The increased
trade helped the growth of towns.
The Crusades also encouraged the use
of money. People that far from home
needed money to buy supplies.
New Ideas


Returning Crusaders also brought new
ideas and technology back to Europe.
The Crusaders helped increase
European knowledge of medicine,
mathematics, and technology.
They also learned how to build ships
and make maps.