1. Chapter 14 – The High Middle Ages
Section One: The Crusades

3. To Christians, Jews, and Muslims, Palestine (Jerusalem) was a holy land.
In the 600s, Muslim Arabs took control of Palestine. They let Christians and Jews practice their religions, travel freely, and trade.
During the Middle Ages, however, this situation changed.
During the late 1000s, the Seljuq Turks (Muslims) from Central Asia gained control of Palestine.

5. When they threatened Constantinople, the Byzantine emperor called on Pope Urban II in Rome for help
In 1095 Pope Urban II met with church leaders and feudal lords in Clermont, France
They were asked to join in a great war to win back the Holy Land = The Crusades
Their battle cry was “God wills it!”

6. Causes of the Crusades
The Crusades were a series of military expeditions to regain the Holy Land by the Christians
At least 10,000 Europeans participated; sewed a cross on their clothing and were called crusaders (“marked with a cross”)
Reasons people joined:
Save their souls
Knights hoped to gain land and wealth
Merchants saw a chance to make money

8. The First Crusade 1096 – 1099
French and Italian lords led armies from Europe to Constantinople; continued on to Palestine (Jerusalem)
Suffered during their march – lacked food and water, overheated in wool and leather clothes and heavy armor
Fleets of ships from Italy brought them supplies when they reached Jerusalem
Turks were disunited and unable to prevent crusaders from surrounding city
Crusaders slaughtered Muslims and Jews and captured Jerusalem

9. Results of First Crusade:
Brought much of Holy Land under European control
Introduced idea of feudalism and divided land into fiefs, with lords and vassals
Trade between Europe and Holy Land strengthened
Christians and Muslims now lived alongside each other and began to respect each other
European Christians held onto Palestine for almost 100 years
Turks eventually won back lands

10. Second Crusade – failed to regain Jerusalem
Third Crusade – failed to regain Jerusalem but settled for a truce and allowed Christians to enter Jerusalem freely
Fourth Crusade – attacked Constantinople and brought it under European control for 60 years
Children’s Crusade – young people from across Europe were unprepared and thousands died

11. The Crusades continued until 1291, when the Muslims captured the city of Acre
Acre was the last Christian stronghold in the Holy Land

12. Results of Crusades All failed except First Crusade
Muslims again controlled Palestine
Crossbow became main weapon for Europeans
Learned from Byzantines and Muslims how to use catapults and gunpowder
Some lords sold land to raise money for crusades
Without land, they had no power in feudal system

13. Results of Crusades
With fewer lords, power of European kings grew stronger
Helped bring an end to feudalism
Christian church became more powerful
Popes organized crusades and thus took on more importance
Ideas were exchanged as Europeans came in contact with Byzantines and Muslims – enriched European culture
Italian cities became major trading centers

14. Section 5: Wars and the Growth of Nations

15. England
By the late Middle Ages, England’s feudal lords had lost much of their power to its king
Single system of law and courts, larger army, and more taxes helped strengthen the king
In early 1300s the English king also held land in France – he was therefore a vassal of the French king – led to Hundred Years’ War (English king wanted control of French throne)

16. Hundred Years’ War (1337 – 1453)
116 years of raids and battles between England and France
Long periods of uneasy peace
England won many battles but lost the war
New weapons used – French knights on horseback were no match for the English and their longbows
Both English and French used gunpowder and cannons (could destroy castles)
France suffered during Hundred Years’ War because war took place in France

17. Spain Became united in 1479 under Ferdinand and Isabella
Spanish army captured last stronghold of Muslims in Spain in 1492
Ferdinand and Isabella took powers away from church courts and nobles
Ordered all Jews and Muslims to become Christians or leave Spain
Most did leave – thus Spain lost many trade and industry leaders

18. Section 6: Challenges to Church Power

19. Innocent III
After Pope Innocent, (1198 – 1216) worldly power of church weakened because:
Power was shifting – kings of England, France, and Spain were forming strong governments
Many felt church laws limited their trade and industry
People began to question church practices

20. More Church Problems
Great Schism – church was divided and had two or three popes; in 1417 it was decided to have one pope
In the late 1300s, John Wycliffe (priest and teacher) stated he did not believe in absolute power of pope – wanted to replace authority of church with that of the Bible
Felt that people should read and interpret Bible as they wished, without church intervention
Great appeal among Europeans
Accused of being a heretic but not executed – defended by English royal court
Questioning of church authority set the stage for later reforms – profound impact on Christian church