And The rise of international trade! The Crusades! And The rise of international trade!
Textbook – Page 41 The Crusades
Crusades: What Were They? The Crusades were a series of battles between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East. Christian knights wanted to take the Holy Land back from the Muslims
The Holy Land
"Christians, hasten to help your brothers in the East, for they are being attacked. Arm for the rescue of Jerusalem under your captain Christ. Wear his cross as your badge. If you are killed your sins will be pardoned." - Pope Urban II
Journey To The Holy Land Many Crusaders traveled (walked) thousands of miles and spent large sums of money to get to the Holy Land to fight the infidels (Muslims) The passage was long and dangerous as Crusaders often had to pass through unfriendly territories – including through Constantinople
Why was Constantinople so important geographically?
Let’s Think This Through… Why do you think the Christians wanted to take the Holy Land back from the Muslims for? What do you think it was like to live in Jerusalem under Muslim rule?
What was Jerusalem Like under Muslim Rule? The Arab world was relatively peaceful at this time. Arab men were expected to be poets & philosophers – very well educated It was a Multicultural city were Jews, Muslims, and Christians lived together harmoniously
When the Crusades arrived in Northern Turkey, the carnage began When the Crusades arrived in Northern Turkey, the carnage began. In Lycea, reports told of babies cut to pieces. Old people were subjected to every kind of torture. Unfortunately, most of the inhabitants of Lycea were actually Christians…
How many Crusades were there? (Timeline) There roughly 9 crusades, however historians usually only refer to the first 4 as the ones of most importance The Crusades lasted from roughly 1096 – 1272 CE.
First Crusade (Do not add to Notes) 1096AD-1099AD Mostly French, numbered over 700,000 men of whom 100,000 were mailed knights Captured Antioch and Jerusalem 1099 Fairly successful
Second Crusade (Do not add to Notes) 1147AD-1149AD St Bernard of Clairvaux preached relief for those in the Middle East. Edessa was taken by the Turks and Christians needed help. Combined Franco- German crusade Armies got slaughtered in Turkey and few crusaders returned home
Third Crusade (Do not add to Notes) 1189AD-1192AD French/British/German Famous Richard the Lionheart vs Saladin German Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa drowns crossing a river and German contingent goes home. Richard captures Acre but is unable to recapture Jerusalem. A truce between Richard and Saladin is met and crusade ends
Fourth Crusade (Do not add to Notes) 1202AD-1261AD Not led by any particular country however instigated by Pope Innocent III Did not reach the Holy Land, instead in under direction from Venice seized Zara and then sacked Constantinople (a Christian city)
Other Crusades (Do not add to Notes) Peoples/Peasants Crusade Led by Peter the Hermit 800,00 men, women and children (poor) took what they had and started heading east. Mostly unarmed they met resistance on in Asia Minor and were slaughtered Children’s Crusade Actually 3 separate crusades totaling roughly 100,00 children. Mostly 12 years old or younger. Unable to fund their crusade the children were often forced to return home due to starvation or sold into slavery.
Let’s Think Deep…. Why are they fighting to spread religion? Kind of a contradiction no?
The Aftermath… 2 important result of the Crusades for Europe: Contact with Muslim civilization & Trade. Muslim/Islamic society was more advanced than European society (medicine, math, literature, etc). Also more accepting towards others. Opened trade doors between East and West (Silk Road) allowed many foreign goods to enter Europe from Middle East (spices, jewels, fabrics etc).
The Aftermath… The Crusades helped begin the late Middle Ages and the transition into the Renaissance!
The Crusades…a Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bdWm8HPCzs
Reflection Question In your opinion, were the results of the Crusades worth the cost? Why?