1. Taken from a French manuscript from the 1300s, this picture shows Crusaders (right) fighting Muslims (left). The CRUSADES What were they?

2. The CRUSADES What were they? – The Crusades were a series of military campaigns by Christian nations in Europe during the Middle Ages. They were intended to stop the expansion of Islamic nations and reclaim Muslim-controlled lands that were considered holy by Christians.Europe

4. The end of the Crusades… The 3 rd and 4 th crusades had some military victories but failed to capture Jerusalem. After this, many poor boys and girls in Europe became convinced that God would help them conquer Jerusalem.Europe Thousands of them began to travel to the Holy Land in 1212. This event is called the Children’s Crusade. Many of these children starved or froze to death on their journey. Others were drowned at sea or sold into slavery. None of them reached the Holy Land.

5. The Crusades’ lasting impact on history… Although the Crusaders succeeded in controlling part of the Holy Land for periods of time, they failed in their goal of permanently controlling the region. Also, their efforts caused bitter feelings between Muslims and Christians for centuries. However, the Crusades did spur economic growth. Trade increased between cities along the Mediterranean Sea, and Italian cities made huge profits by transporting crusaders and their supplies. Trade Mediterranean Sea