Download File

Then came the Crusades
• The Eastern search for
assistance under enemy
attack led
to the crusades
beginning in
1096
Who Started It?
• The conflict really erupted when the Muslim
forces (Seljuk Turks) invaded and captured
the city of Jerusalem
• Both forces saw Jerusalem as valuable
– The Christians fought to regain the city of Jerusalem
because of its connection to Jesus Christ
– The Muslim forces fought to maintain control of the
city because Muhammad had a past history within it
• There were many
people involved with
the crusades:
– Pope Urban II called
Christians to action
the first time
• Western knights of different orders formed the
first armies:
– The Knights Templar
– The Teutonic Knights
– The Knights Hospitaller
• But the bulk of most crusading armies
involved peasants and merchants
• Fighting against them were Islamic warriors
(often called “Saracens”)
• Altogether, the
Crusades span from
1096-1270,
• Eight Crusades total
• In the First
Crusade,
European forces
took Jerusalem by
force
– They then
established
“crusader states”
– There were four
official Crusader
States:
– 1. Jerusalem (Israel)
– 2. Triopli (Lebanon)
– 3. Antioch
(Turkey/Syria)
– 4. Edessa (Eastern
Turkey)
• In the Second
Crusade, the
Muslim forces
led by Saladin
attempt to
regain the land
Territories lost at
the end of the
second crusade
----->
• In the Third
Crusade, a
truce was
called between
the Muslim and
Christian forces
– Later crusades
would never
retake full
control
Lasting Effects of the Crusades
• Thanks to the creation of early Crusader States,
the Western economies grew strong with
increased trade
• There was also growth in the power of the
Catholic Church and its role in political,
economic, and military affairs
• Plus, the Crusades
led to the break
down of
feudalism by
increasing the
power of absolute
monarchs
A Just War?
• The Church is criticized
for its role in the
Crusades
• Was it a
“just war”?
--here are the
facts…
• The crusades were
encouraged by the
current Pope (Pope
Urban II)
“All who die…
whether by land or by
sea, or in battle against
the pagans, shall have
immediate remission
[forgiveness] of sins.”
• 1. The Christian nations of Europe were not
the initial aggressors
• The Christians were trying to regain lands
which their enemy had conquered
• There were instances of abuse that took place
during the wars
– “but an immoral
action during a
war does not
detract from the
justice of the cause
of the war”