THE CRUSADES

THE CRUSADES: HEADING FOR HOLY WAR  11 th Century CE, Western Europe began to grow in power and influence  Still less powerful than the Byzantines (Eastern Empire) and the Muslim Empires  Relations between Western Europe and the Byzantines had slowly began to improve  The Byzantines asked Western Europeans and the Catholic Church for aid in halting Muslim expansion

THE CRUSADES: HEADING FOR HOLY WAR  Reconquering the Holy Land:  Jerusalem was conquered by Arabs in the 7 th Century CE and by the Seljuk Turks in the 11 th Century CE  The Catholic Church and Christians wanted to reconquer the region  The importance of Jerusalem:  Judaism—the land promised to them by god and the location of the Hebrew Temple (built by Solomon)  Christianity—the site of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection  Islam—where Muhammad ascended to heaven and location of sacred mosques

THE CRUSADES: START OF THE FIRST CRUSADE  Byzantine Emperor Alexius I, wrote to Pope Urban II asking for aid against the Seljuk Turks  Council of Clermont (1095)—Pope Urban II’s Speech:  Event that marks the start of the First Crusades  The Pope called on European nobles and knights to aid their Christian brothers and to recapture Jerusalem  Promised an indulgence to those who fought—those who fought were promised forgiveness of sins and a direct ticket to heaven

THE CRUSADES: THE FIRST AND SECOND CRUSADE  The First Crusade ( ):  Christians recaptured Jerusalem from Egyptian Muslims in 1099 CE  Crusaders captured Muslim territories in Syria and Turkey and built “Crusader States” around the Holy Land  Crusaders slaughtered Jews living in Europe  The Second Crusade ( ):  Seljuk Turks recaptured territories in Syria and Turkey  Crusader armies were heavily defeated

THE CRUSADES: THE THIRD CRUSADE ( )  The Third Crusade:  Saladin (sultan of Egypt and Syria) recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187 CE  Saladin and Richard the Lionheart (King of England) signed the Treaty of Jaffa  The Treaty of Jaffa:  Three years of peace between Christians and Muslims  Jerusalem remained under Muslim control  Allowed Christian pilgrimages in Jerusalem

THE CRUSADES: THE FOURTH-SIXTH CRUSADES ( )  The Fourth Crusade:  Pope Innocent III called for a new crusade in 1198  Crusaders instead captured Constantinople from the Byzantines (Venice wanted wealth and political power)  Weakened the Byzantine Empire and created conflict between Catholics and Orthodox Christians  The Fifth and Sixth Crusade:  Crusaders turned their attention away from Muslims to all non-Christians  Crusaders captured Jerusalem briefly but the city was again recaptured by Muslim armies

THE CRUSADES: FOREIGN INVASIONS DURING THE CRUSADES  The Mongols:  Invaded China, Russia, and Muslim states in SW Asia  Weakened the Seljuk Turks and Eastern European kingdoms  The Ottoman Turks:  Conquered Constantinople in 1453 CE  Destroyed and ended the Byzantine Empire

THE CRUSADES: EFFECTS OF THE CRUSADES  Economic Effects:  Stimulated trade through the Mediterranean and Middle-East  Increased demand for Middle-Eastern goods  Encouraged and increased the use of credit and banking  Social and Political Effects:  Weakened the Pope and nobles; strengthened the power of the monarchs  Weakened the Byzantine Empire  Effects on Religion:  Left a legacy of bitterness between Jews, Christians, and Muslims