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World Studies: The Crusades DBQ
Document 1: The Crusades
1) Predictions: Based on this image
a. Based on what we have learned about world religions, and based on what
you see in the above image, what do you predict The Crusades were?
b. What can you predict is 1 economic, social and political benefit to having a
specific religion control an area of land?
Economic –
Political –
Social –
Document 2
2) Based on the above map, where are the Crusaders’ routes starting?
3) Where is the battle in 1099 fought?
4) Based on your knowledge of World Religions, why is that location (from #3) a significant religious
location? Why do you predict the Crusaders want with this city?
Document 3: An Overview of the Crusades
Three major religious groups all claimed Jerusalem in the land of Palestine as their holy city.
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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
In 600 CE, Arabs (Muslims) entered the city and took control. 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 First Crusade: The Problem: Around 1095, a new group of Arabs (Muslims) took control of Jerusalem. They closed the city
to Jewish and Christian pilgrims. 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.
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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.
Sign of the Crusade - The Red Cross: Each crusader had a huge red cross, made out of fabric, stitched onto their shirts or
armor. 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
The Results: After about two years of harsh traveling, hunger, disease, freezing weather, and quarrels amongst themselves, the
crusaders finally arrived in Jerusalem. 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.
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.
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The Second Crusade lasted from 1147-1149. It was not successful.
The Third Crusade lasted from 1189-1192. It was not successful.
The Fourth Crusade lasted from 1202-1204
The Children's Crusade in 1212 was a terrible tragedy. Many thousands of French and German children died trying to
reach Jerusalem. They believed God would help them because they were children. Many died of hunger. Other froze
to death. When the survivors reached the Mediterranean Sea, they expected the waters to part and let them pass.
When this did not happen, those who were left returned dismally home.
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.
5) In your own words, and it 2 complete sentences, explain what the Crusades were? Is this what you
predicted they were?
6) Based on the reading above, were the Crusaders successful in taking back the city of Jerusalem? Site
specific quotes from the reading to defend your answer.
Document 4: The Pope Promises Eternal Rewards
…."Although, O sons of God, you have promised more firmly than ever to keep the peace among
yourselves and to preserve the rights of the church, there remains still an important work for you to do.
Freshly quickened by the divine correction, you must apply the strength of your righteousness to another matter which concerns
you as well as God. For your brothers who live in the east are in urgent need of your help, and you must give them the aid which
has often been promised. For, as the most of you have heard, the Turks and Arabs (Muslims) have attacked them and have
conquered the territory of Romania [the Greek empire]. They have occupied more and more of the lands of those Christians, and
have overcome them in seven battles. They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated
the empire. If you permit them to continue the faithful of God will be much more widely attacked by them. On this account I, or
rather the Lord, begs you as Christ's children to publish this everywhere and to persuade all people of whatever rank, footsoldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile {disgusting} race from the
lands of our friends... Moreover, Christ commands it.”
All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the Muslims, shall have
immediate remission {forgiveness} of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am
invested. Oh what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worships demons, should conquer a
people which has the faith of omnipotent {all-powerful} God and is made glorious with the name of Christ!....
SOURCE: Pope Urban II, 1095.
7) Give at least 2 reasons why Pope Urban II wants Christians to go to the Middle East to fight?
8) Using specific quotes from the above reading, what reward does the Pope promise to those who
participate, or even die, in ending Muslim control?
9.) What is your reaction to this promise?
Document 5: Christians Encounter Jews
….“At this time, Christians, who are arrogant people of strange speech (and a nation bitter and impulsive Frenchmen and
Germans), set out for the Holy City of Jerusalem , to expel (get rid of) all Muslims living there. They came in large numbers until
the number of men, women, and children exceeded a locust horde {large group} covering the city.…Now it came to pass that as
they passed through the towns where Jews lived and they said to one another: ‘Look now, we are going a long way to seek out
the Muslims when here, in our midst, are the Jews—they whose forefathers murdered and crucified Christians for no reason. Let
us first avenge ourselves on them and exterminate them from among the nations so that the name of Israel will no longer be
remembered, or let them adopt our faith.
SOURCE: The Jewish chronicler, Solomon bar Samson, 1096.
10) Based on the above excerpt, what is the issue that Christians have with the Jewish people they
encounter on their way to Jerusalem?
11) According to the reading, what could a Jewish person do if they want to live this encounter?
Document 6:
12) Based on the above image, who does the Pope begin to recruit to be Crusaders? How do you know?
13) Why would the Pope start recruiting this group of people?
Document 7:The Children’s Crusade
The history of the Children’s Crusade has been shrouded in mysterious silence, probably for a variety of reasons: in part,
because the participants were mostly children with little or no education and of the lower social strata, and were unable to readily
commit their experiences in writing; in part, because nearly two decades passed before anyone knew what had happened to
many of them; in part, because the Children’s Crusade is a conundrum, that is, something difficult to fully understand and explain
without challenging our notions of "acceptable" conduct; and in part, because many of the writers of the day would have had to
stare straight into the face of their own failure to protect those children. Nevertheless, the sheer numbers of the participants and
the incredible sacrifices made by them, cries out for their story to be told.http://www.salvemariaregina.info/Reference/children's%20crusade.htm
14) According to this passage, which children, specifically, were targeted to join the Crusades and why?
(use specific quotes form the above passage).
15) Why is the story of these children undocumented?