Download The Crusades Film Questions

World History Honors
Church Reform and Power in the High Middle Ages
The Crusades: Motivations and the Popular Crusade
1. How did the political situation in the East help to cause the Crusades?
2. What were the religious, economic, military, and social motives that spurred western interest in the Crusades?
3. Why did Pope Urban II encourage western Christians to come to the aid of Alexius Comnenus? What were
his goals?
4. How did the council at Clermont Cathedral serve to both motivate knights to war against the infidels and ease
their moral concerns?
5. Explain how the Crusades are the origins of widespread anti-Semitism in Europe.
6. Explain the popular response to Urban’s call. Why were Europeans of all classes and occupations interested
in joining the Crusades?
7. Explain the events of the Popular Crusade and its ultimate failure.
World History Honors
Church Reform and Power in the High Middle Ages
The Crusades: the First Crusade
1. What did Alexius Comnenus require of the arriving European crusaders? What was the reaction of the
Crusade leaders?
2. How did Alexius betray the crusaders at Nicea? What impact did this have on European-Byzantine relations?
3. How were the crusaders able to win their first major victory at Antioch? Why was it so significant?
4. What internal problems did the Turks face in attempting to hold off the invading Europeans?
5. How did the crusaders take Jerusalem? Why were their actions in the Holy City particularly horrific?
6. Was the First Crusade a success? Did the crusaders achieve their goals?
World History Honors
Church Reform and Power in the High Middle Ages
The Crusades: the Second Crusade and Saladin
1. How did Xengi and Nur ad-Din cause the Second Crusade?
2. Why can the Second Crusade be characterized as an embarrassing failure?
3. How did Muslim leaders spur popular interest in jihad and defense of their cities against the Europeans? In
what ways were these concepts similar to those that brought Europeans to the Near East?
4. How did Saladin establish himself in power over the Muslim world? What problems or conflicts did he face
in solidifying his power?
5. In what ways was the concept of the military-religious orders new and original? How did it change the idea
and role of knights?
6. How did Saladin utterly defeat the crusader army and the crusader kingdom?
World History Honors
Church Reform and Power in the High Middle Ages
The Crusades: Third Crusade and Later Efforts
1. How was the crusade of Richard I of England and Philip II of France different than the earlier crusades in
terms of motivation, preparation, and actions?
2. Why can the Third Crusade be characterized as a disaster from both the European and the Muslim
perspectives?
3. Why did the leaders of the Fourth Crusade turn to Venice for aid?
4. How did association with Venice change to intent of the crusade? What became the ultimate goal of the
Venetian-led crusade?
5. How was the crusader kingdom finally destroyed?